Why Water Is Your Best Friend When You’re Recovering From an Injury

Sustaining an injury during sports, on the job, or any other context could mean weeks of treatment and rehabilitation before you can get back into your normal flow. Most people aren’t keen on spending a long time in recovery, especially if they’re typically active and enjoy physical activities. Fortunately, you can take steps to make your injury recovery a breeze. 

At our offices in Houston and Pearland, Texas, Elation Physical Therapy provides individualized physical therapy for people recovering from injuries so they can rebuild their strength and eventually engage in their favorite activities again. No matter the type of musculoskeletal injury, you can set goals and work toward them in a personalized program. 

Our expert physical therapists can assist you during recovery in many ways, but some crucial steps are almost entirely within your control. Hydration plays a vital role in healing, so you should keep drinking water within reach at all times as you go through treatment and rehabilitation.  

How your body benefits from hydration

Drinking lots of water is always positive, even when you’re not on the road to injury recovery. It regulates your body temperature, lubricates your joints, and helps flush out toxins. Benefits like these are amplified when you drink plenty of water during injury recovery. 

When you drink plenty of fluids, the water helps flush toxins out of your body. Too many toxins can inhibit the healing process, so minimizing them can increase your recovery rate. 

Hydration also helps transport beneficial nutrients into your cells. These nutrients assist with cell repair and regeneration, key parts of the healing process. Soreness and tension dissipate when the injured tissue gets plenty of oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood flow. 

How to increase your hydration

For some people, drinking lots of water comes naturally. You might consciously realize the benefits of drinking water or naturally crave hydration. If you already drink a lot of water, you’ll have no issue staying hydrated as you recover from an injury.

Consistent hydration isn’t so easy for everyone. If you struggle to stay hydrated because you don’t enjoy water or just don’t think about your fluid intake, you can increase your fluid intake by:

• Carrying a full water bottle with you all the time
• Adding flavor to your water with fruit or flavor enhancers
• Replacing your favorite sodas and other sugary drinks with water
• Tying water intake with part of your routine, like drinking a glass after brushing your teeth
• Setting reminders to drink water on your phone

While hydration alone isn’t the only way to speed up your recovery, it can help you get the most out of physical therapy. Your Elation Physical Therapy physical therapist also encourages you to eat a balanced diet and follow other personalized tips you get based on your injury type and severity. 

Keeping consistent with your hydration

Even after you recover from your injury, it’s important to maintain great habits around drinking water. Hydration helps prevent future athletic injuries and can even improve your athletic performance. 

You sweat a lot when you work out, but drinking plenty of water during and outside of practice counteracts that loss of moisture. Your joints stay lubricated and are less likely to withstand injuries in the gym, on the court, or on the field. 

Start your rehabilitation program today

Want a swift recovery after a recent injury? Schedule an appointment online or over the phone at Elation Physical Therapy today.