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Drinking water to stay hydrated is especially important for athletes and those participating in physical therapy programs. Whether you’re healing from an injury, surgery or recovering after a workout, maintaining the body’s hydration is critical to your recovery. The average adult human body is comprised of mostly water, so the proper balance between water and electrolytes is crucial to how our systems function, including nerves and muscles.
How Much Water to Drink
How much water someone should drink to stay hydrated depends on your physical size and intensity of activities. Many experts agree that drinking half of one’s body weight in ounces can relieve the symptoms of dehydration, leading to more energy, improved alertness, less feeling of hunger and faster healing.
Benefits of Hydration
For people recovering from injury or surgery, proper hydration is important to the success of physical therapy. Water flushes toxins out of the body, transports nutrients into the cells and helps regulate body temperature and pH balance. Water also helps with muscle soreness and tension.
Tips to Stay Hydrated
Unfortunately, water is not a naturally flavorful beverage. Some easy tips to improve the taste of water and increase your intake include:
- Add a lemon or lime wedge to a glass of water
- Use herbal caffeine-free tea when making iced tea
- Enhance the taste of water with cucumbers or oranges
- Try ice cubes that contain frozen fruit to add flavor to water
Another tip is to keep a water bottle with you at all times. Reusable water bottles can save you time and money and are safer for the environment than regular plastic water bottles.
Staying hydrated will help you recover faster from injuries and help with your physical therapy treatments.
To learn more about health and wellness, contact us today!