Five years ago, during a very hot spell in Albuquerque, New Mexico, I discovered that my patients who had back pain were negatively affected by not drinking enough water every day. It became obvious to me that certain patients were more sensitive to palpation of their spinal muscles than I expected during their initial examinations. In addition, they were more uncomfortable after their first chiropractic treatments than I would have expected. Normally, people have a tendency to experience some temporary muscle soreness and myofascial pain after their initial chiropractic spinal manipulation. This muscle soreness is caused by the change in posture that occurs after an initial chiropractic spinal manipulation because the chiropractic treatment affects the length of the involved muscles. During this hot spell, several patients exhibited this muscle soreness not only after their initial chiropractic treatments, but after their follow-up chiropractic treatments as well. This response to chiropractic care concerned me because it was so unusual. Normally, patients with back pain respond quickly to chiropractic care. Consequently, my inquisitiveness stimulated me to research hydration (water intake) data.
Research on Drinking Water
It soon became obvious to me that there was a dearth of information regarding the proper hydration levels for the average adult. There were volumes of articles about runners, institutionalized seniors, and military personnel, which detailed required daily water intake needs indicated in these specialized situations. Unfortunately, my research did not reveal many articles that discussed the required daily water intake needs for the average adult. Although the AMA web site mentioned the value of proper hydration and suggested eight to ten glasses of water per day, I could not substantiate their recommendations with a scientific reference.Internet research revealed the most obvious medical source that appreciated the vital needs of proper water intake for the average adult. This source was from a man named Fereydoon Batmanghelidj, M.D., the author of "Your Body’s Many Cries for Water." Dr. Batmanghelidj’s information and opinions prompted me to continue my research into inadequate water consumption and back pain. Dr. Batmanghelidj suggested water as a prescription for a healthier pain-free life.
Currently, there are many more research articles available regarding proper water intake. I am most impressed with a monograph titled Hydration: Fluids for Life. As stated in the foreword of the monograph:
This monograph provides readers with an overview of current knowledge related to the functions of water, methods of determining hydration status, sources of water in the diet, and specific considerations for infants, children, physically active individuals and the elderly.
This 39-page publication by the North American Branch of the International life Sciences Institutes should be mandatory reading by anyone interested in proper hydration.
