Can my muscles overheat from dehydration?

Question

When it is really hot outside or I feel like I'm dehydrated my shoulders get really tight and give out if I play basketball long enough in the heat. I thought that it was because I strained and injured them from just playing too much, but they never get better. If I stretch and massage them daily they don't bother me, but if I don't they're killer.

I just noticed today though that when it is hot out they are guaranteed to give out while exercising and if I throw some cool water on them the feeling of giving out goes away some.

Answer 1

Water is very important to the metabolism and being dehydrated can cause the muscle fatigue you're describing.  It's a lack of available water for the muscles to work like they're supposed to that causes this.  It'd be better as far as your muscles are concerned to swallow that water instead of throwing it on your outside :P.