The importance of drinking waterMay 7, 2011

Quite often we get a call from clients who are in acute pain where they "threw out their back" or are having extreme cramping or "charlie horses."

I got a call the other day from a new client who was experiencing cramping and I scheduled him and I assigned him a task to drink 3 liters for the rest of the day and water before he came in the next day. When he arrived for his appointment in the morning, he said drinking water relieved 80% of his pain and most of the cramping.

Now why is that?

Well, just a week ago, I read an article by Thomas Myers, author of Anatomy Trains (http://www.anatomytrains.com) that he posted on his website written for IDEA Fitness Journal called, "Fascial Fitness: Training in the Neuro-Myofascial Web." Thomas Myers is one of the most recognized experts on Structural Integration (most popularly known as "Rolfing") and has done much to bring more awareness to the massage and manual therapy field about Fascia.

Fascia is the body's connective tissue that connects everything in the human body together from the skin, muscles, organs, & bones. Fascia is where our tension or "tighness" is experienced and it also where the water in our body resides.

Fascia is a broad term since it encompasses fibers & nerves and also contains our "fluid." In the Fasica of the body are proteins called glycoaminoglycans (GAGs) and mucopolysaccharides which are "long words for snot" or mucous,. Yes, this is the same mucus that is in your nose.

Mucous is a colloidal substance which by varying its chemistry, can change its properties widely. Mucous is hydrophilic, meaning it retains and holds on to water. When mucous is hydrated, it is runny, like a runny nose. When mucous is dehydrated, it becomes sticky and glue like, just like "boogers" in the nose.

In your soft tissues of your body when you are hydrated, everything can move and slide easily. When you are dehydrated, the soft tissues become sticky and stiff increasing your chance of soft tissue injuries, cramping, and acute pain.

Bottom line, if you are well hydrated, everything moves more smoothly and stays soft and supple. If you are experiencing extremely acute pain when you wake up in the morning or during or after a workout, chances are you are probably dehydrated and the soft tissues are now "stuck." You have "boogers" forming in your soft tissues.

Drink your water so you can keep your tissues soft and moving smoothly. We recommend at least 3 liters of water per day, 4+ liters for athletes. It's the simplest, easiest, and free way to keep yourself flexible, healthy, and pain free. Drink up!