Water Wisdom: Surprising ways movement keeps us hydrated.
Wow it’s been hot these past few weeks! We’re hearing lots of tips on how to stay hydrated and how to avoid heat exhaustion, but did you know drinking enough water does more than just quench your thirst?
Our muscles and joints rely on water to function their best. Think of all the sayings we have about “working out the kinks” “lube up your joints” and even “motion is lotion.” A well-hydrated joint has optimized its cushioning and lubrication. This can help prevent joint pain and stiffness by reducing friction between bones. A hydrated muscle is more resilient as the water helps deliver nutrients and remove waste products. In the big picture, staying hydrated actually helps muscle and joints perform better.
If you’re saying to yourself, “I drink plenty of water but I’m still stiff and sore” don’t worry. Movement is the other big way we keep our joints and muscles hydrated.
Movement helps our joints by way of stimulating synovial fluid circulation. Synovial fluid is a liquid that surrounds our joints acting a bit like WD40 and a shock absorber. The fluid helps remove waste and provide nutrition to our cartilage which, in turn, helps reduce the risk of joint degeneration. It sounds like the phrase “motion is lotion” is really true right?
Another way movement helps us is through the muscle pump mechanism. As we exercise, our muscles are contracting and relaxing which acts like a pump to increase our blood circulation. This increased circulation brings oxygen and nutrients to the muscles while it also removes waste products like lactic acid. This exchange helps our muscles recover more quickly after physical activity.
Finally, being active stimulates us to drink more water. We lose some water through sweat, which can prompt us to drink more water to replace what is being lost.
Of course, we’re a bit biased, but we think Pilates is one of the best ways to get moving and avoid the heat. After your morning ride, hike, or run, come in and enjoy our fabulous teachers (and our water cooler) and take a break from the heat outside! See you soon!
