Recovery & energy · Posted · Updated · By the Elevate team
Athletes and IV hydration: how they use it to recover
The short answer Athletes book IV hydration to replace the fluid and electrolytes they sweat out, usually after a hard game, race or training block, and sometimes before one. Ours is the Recovery Cooldown, $275: B Complex, B12, Glutathione, Magnesium, Amino Blend, brought to you by a registered nurse.
You just finished a hard game. Your legs feel like concrete, your head is pounding, and however much water you drink, you can't seem to catch up. More and more athletes, from weekend runners to gym regulars, book an IV for exactly that moment.
Here's how IV hydration works for athletes, how it compares to a sports drink, and when people book one.
What is IV hydration for athletes?
An IV puts a sterile fluid, with electrolytes and vitamins, straight into a vein through a small, thin tube. It skips your stomach and gut, which is where a sports drink has to go first. The whole thing is quick, and a registered nurse does it wherever you are.
Why fluid loss matters for recovery
When you train hard or compete, you lose fluid and electrolytes like sodium, potassium and magnesium through sweat. Even mild dehydration, around 2% of your body weight in fluid, is widely linked with weaker performance. Without enough fluid and electrolytes, muscles can stay tight and cramp, and you feel it in your next session.
Signs you're more dehydrated than you think
Many athletes don't notice until the signs pile up:
- Muscle cramps or spasms that keep coming back
- Tiredness that rest doesn't fix
- Brain fog or trouble concentrating
- Dark yellow urine
- Headaches or dizziness after training
- Slower reactions or worse coordination
More on this in Signs You're More Dehydrated Than You Think, and in our page on dehydration.
What's in an athletic recovery drip?
A recovery drip is built for after hard effort. These are the usual parts:
- IV fluid: normal saline, to bring your fluid back up.
- Electrolytes: magnesium, which your muscles rely on, and which you lose in sweat.
- B vitamins: B Complex and B12, which your body uses to turn food into energy.
- Amino acids: the building blocks of protein, in our Amino Blend.
- Glutathione: an antioxidant your body also makes on its own.
That's our Recovery Cooldown:
B Complex
The family of B vitamins, together.
B12
A B vitamin.
Glutathione
An antioxidant your body also makes on its own.
Magnesium
An essential mineral.
Amino Blend
A blend of amino acids, the building blocks of protein.
Your nurse can add to it or swap things out. Vitamin C, taurine and any other add-on from our menu go in the same bag.
On our menu
$275
B Complex, B12, Glutathione, Magnesium, Amino Blend
Before or after: when athletes book a drip
Before a race or game
Some athletes book a drip before a big event so they start fully hydrated, especially in hot weather or before a long race where they'll sweat a lot. Our pick for before is the Pre-Game Kickoff, $200: B Complex, B12, Taurine, Amino Blend.
After a race or game
Most book after: to replace what they sweated out once the work is done. That's what the Recovery Cooldown is for.
During heavy training
Others book during a heavy training block, between back-to-back events, or any time the gap before the next session is short. If a long season has you run down, see our page on cold & flu too.
Recovery that comes to you
When your body is already wrecked, the last thing you want is a drive to a clinic and a waiting room. A registered nurse comes to your home, hotel or gym instead. The drip runs for about 30 to 45 minutes, and you can rest, watch the game or catch up on messages while it does.
You'll also find us at sports events: the UC Marathon, CrossFit WV's "The Murph", HOTWORX pop-ups and the First Tee Classic at Edgewood Country Club. We come to you in Southern West Virginia, Morgantown, Wheeling and Pittsburgh. Some of the towns we visit: Greater Charleston, Morgantown, Beckley and Pittsburgh. Check every place we go.
Is IV hydration safe for athletes?
Every visit starts with a registered nurse going over your health history and checking your vitals, and your nurse may advise against an IV. Every IV uses sterile equipment. If you have a kidney or heart condition, talk to your own doctor before your first drip. If you're pregnant, we only give an IV with your doctor's OK. More in Understanding IV Infusion Side Effects.
Questions about IV hydration for athletes
How long does a drip take?
The drip runs for about 30 to 45 minutes, after your nurse's health check.
How soon will I feel it?
Everyone's different, and it depends on how hard you trained and how far behind on fluid you are, so we don't promise a time.
Can I book one before a game, not just after?
Yes. Some athletes book the Pre-Game Kickoff before an event so they start hydrated.
Is IV hydration only for serious athletes?
Not at all. Weekend warriors, gym regulars and recreational runners book it too. If you train hard, it's for you.
How often do athletes book a drip?
It varies: some during heavy training, some only after big events. Ask your nurse what makes sense for your training.
How does it compare with a sports drink?
A sports drink is a good start and works for plenty of people. It goes through your stomach and gut first; an IV goes straight into a vein. More in IV Hydration vs. Drinking Water.
Do you come to my area?
We come to you in Southern West Virginia, Morgantown, Wheeling and Pittsburgh. See our page on athletic recovery, or call or text
Big game behind you? Every day, 8 AM to 8 PM, in Southern West Virginia, Morgantown, Wheeling and Pittsburgh.
