Why You Should Drink Water After a Massage (and What Happens If You Don't)
- Tiffany S.
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
Ever notice how tight your muscles feel when you’re dehydrated even if you haven’t worked out?
It’s not just in your head. Dehydration can actually make your muscles feel more tense and sore. I learned this the hard way…(check out blog post, “Low Sodium Story”).
Here’s why:
Water keeps your fascia and muscles supple. Your muscle tissue is made up of about 75% water. Without enough hydration, the fascia (the connective tissue around your muscles) becomes sticky and tight, making movement feel more restricted.
It supports proper muscle contraction.
Muscles need electrolytes (like sodium, magnesium, and potassium) to contract and relax efficiently. If you’re dehydrated, those minerals can get out of balance leading to cramps, spasms, and tightness.
Water helps to help flush out toxins. Massage stimulates circulation and lymphatic drainage but if you’re dehydrated, your body can’t flush out waste efficiently. That’s why drinking water before and after your massage session is important. If you’re feeling stiff or sore lately, maybe check your water intake before blaming your workout or sleep position.
While water alone helps flush toxins and rehydrate your body after massage, adding a pinch of sea salt or sipping electrolyte water can further support recovery. Curious why that matters? I wrote more about sodium, hydration and muscle function in this blog post about low sodium and energy levels.
I like to add a pinch of Celtic salt, a squeeze of lemon or my favorite #LMNT to my water for better absorption. (LMNT now offers Lemonade Salt).
What’s your favorite way to drink 💧 water?
A fun way I like to make water fancier so that I drink more of it is to add cucumber, a lemon wedge and fresh mint. Delicious!!
Do you have a tastier suggestion? If you add mint, do you grow it at home?
Do you notice a difference in your body when you’re well hydrated?
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