For physically active people needing fluid replacement, oral rehydration is the recommended first-line approach; professional guidance reserves IV fluids for people who cannot tolerate oral intake or who need rapid correction under medical supervision, not as a superior routine option for otherwise healthy people.
How strong the finding is
Professional-association position statement synthesizing the broader rehydration evidence base, not a single new trial.
Source
National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Fluid Replacement for the Physically Active — Journal of Athletic Training (NATA)




