Runners, cyclists, hockey players and weekend athletes in Oakville often ask us about IV therapy. Before booking, it helps to know how IV therapy for athletes works at Inside Health, what we check first, and the anti-doping rules that apply if you compete. This guide walks you through the assessment, the safety screening and the questions worth asking. It does not promise performance results, because whether an IV is appropriate is decided only after a proper assessment.
Start With a Sports-Focused Naturopathic Assessment
Your first visit is with a naturopathic doctor trained in IV therapy. Expect about an hour. Along with your general health history, we ask about:
- Your sport, training volume and competition calendar
- How you eat and drink around training, including what you use during long sessions
- Sleep, recovery habits and stress outside sport
- Past injuries, cramping or episodes of dizziness or fainting
- All medications, supplements and sports products you use
Often the most useful changes for active people are not IVs at all, but better fuelling, hydration habits and recovery routines. Your naturopathic doctor will tell you honestly whether an IV makes sense for you.
Blood Work and Safety Screening
Before most IVs, we need lab results. Depending on what is being considered, this can include a complete blood count, iron studies, kidney function, electrolytes and a G6PD enzyme test. Active people sometimes have results that need a closer look, and some findings mean an IV is not appropriate or should wait. More on testing is on our blood work page.
If You Compete: Anti-Doping Rules Matter
If you compete in a sport that follows the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code, intravenous infusions and injections of more than a set volume within a 12-hour period are prohibited at all times, unless they are given during hospital treatment, surgery or clinical diagnostic investigations. Volume limits and exceptions are set by WADA and can change, so check the current WADA Prohibited List and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport before any IV. Tell us at your assessment if you are a tested athlete.
What an IV Visit Looks Like
- Check-in: we ask about recent training, how you feel, and any changes to medications, and we take your vital signs.
- Preparation: if an IV is part of your plan, it is prepared individually for that visit.
- Starting the IV: a trained practitioner places a small catheter, usually in the arm.
- Monitoring: you rest in a comfortable chair for 30 to 90 minutes while staff check on you.
- Finishing: the catheter is removed and we confirm you feel well before you leave.
We usually suggest avoiding hard training right before and right after an IV visit. Our IV preparation guide has more tips for the day.
Possible Side Effects
The most common side effects are mild bruising or tenderness at the site, a cool feeling in the arm and feeling light-headed. Less often, a vein can become irritated or a reaction can occur. Your practitioner reviews the risks before you consent, and you can stop at any time.
Other Care for Active People at Inside Health
Many athletes get more out of the rest of the clinic. Our chiropractors help with movement, posture and injury care, and acupuncture is popular for muscle tension. You can read more in our article on chiropractic care for athletes in Oakville.
Hydration and Fuelling Come First
For most active adults, the biggest gains come from everyday habits: drinking enough before, during and after training, eating enough carbohydrate and protein around sessions, and getting consistent sleep. Your naturopathic doctor can review your current routine and suggest practical changes, whether or not an IV becomes part of your plan.
Questions to Ask Before an IV
- Why is an IV recommended for me instead of better fuelling or hydration?
- What blood work do I need first?
- Is this IV allowed under the rules of my sport?
- When should I book it around training and competition?
- What are the risks for me, and what does it cost?
Cost and Insurance
The assessment is billed as a naturopathic visit, which many extended health plans in Ontario cover. Lab work and IV visits are billed separately. OHIP does not cover naturopathic care. You will get a written estimate before anything is started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get an IV the day before a race?
Only if your naturopathic doctor has assessed you, your results are reviewed, and the IV is allowed under the rules of your sport. In many cases we suggest a different timing or no IV at all.
Do I need blood work first?
In most cases, yes. It helps your naturopathic doctor decide what is safe and appropriate.
Are IVs allowed for tested athletes?
WADA limits IV infusions for athletes under the Code. Always check the current Prohibited List and tell us at your assessment that you are a tested athlete.
Who gives the IV?
Trained practitioners at Inside Health, following the College of Naturopaths of Ontario’s standards, with monitoring throughout.
Book an Assessment in Oakville
To find out whether IV therapy is appropriate for you as an active adult, book online through Jane with one of our naturopathic doctors, or call 905-842-6654. More general information is on our IV therapy page.