Acidity is measured by pH, which is an acronym for “potential of hydrogen.” Ph is measured on a scale of 0 to 14. A a score of 7 is considered neutral; water is considered 7. A value of less than 7 is considered acidic, and a value of more than 7 is considered alkaline.
Dr. Ivan Abadjiev is considered the godfather of the modernization of weightlifting, having coached 9 Olympic Champions and 57 world champions. Abadjiev says that overtraining acidifies the body. Therefore, measuring pH levels in the urine and saliva can help determine the extent of training load in terms of volume (how much work is performed) and intensity (how much weight is lifted). Further, the secretion of stress hormone cortisol will decrease pH, so measuring pH levels are also an indirect method to measure overtraining.
From a practical perspective, an athlete or coach could use pH levels to monitor over reaching during training before its sequels affect the body too extensively.
Copyright ©2011 Charles Poliquin