Hydrotherapy & Heat Therapy
While many may think of hot tubs as a luxury item, for others a hot tub is an indispensable part of making it through the day. The scientifically proven benefits associated with regular therapeutic hot tub use are beyond dispute and even prescribed by many doctors as a form of treatment for pain, stiffness, arthritis, diabetes and more. Some of the basic health benefits in hot tub ownership are:
Stress Relief
There are physiological as well as psychological reasons that a hot tub so successfully relieves stress and helps you unwind during tense times. Hydrotherapy combined with heat therapy and the buoyancy of being submerged in water all work together to allow your body to release tension, stiff muscles to loosen and blood to flow more freely.
Arthritic Pain, Fibromyalgia
A trip to the masseuse is sometimes the only relief that sufferers of chronic arthritis and joint pain can find. Your hot tub is your own personal mechanical masseuse, at your beck and call whenever you need it. The added benefits of heat for better blood flow and buoyancy to relieve the strain of gravity on your frame make the hot tub an ideal treatment for both disorders. A hot tub is a great way to ease the daily burden of constant joint pain.
Better Sleep
Heat brings down the body’s internal temperature, allowing for natural relaxation. Unlike the use of medications and prescription sleep aids, the circulation and warmth of a hot tub encourages the body to unwind and rest on its own, leading to a more restful sleep.
Type 2 Diabetes
A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that sufferers of Type 2 Diabetes can benefit from regular use of a hot tub. Most diabetics are unable to endure rigorous activity, and have difficulty with weight and circulation. The study revealed that sufferers experienced a significant decrease in blood sugar levels, and improved sleep after spending 30 minutes a day in a hot tub. For those who live with the daily discomfort and inconvenience of diabetes, a hot tub can be the doorway to a fuller more enjoyable life.
Lower Back and other Pain
Lower back pain is typically caused by muscle strain and over-exertion. This can not only create sever tension in the muscle and tissue around the spine and vertebrae, but restricts blood flow, causing most of the pain. Too much tension can cause muscle spasms that can range from mild discomfort to debilitating pain. Heat therapy can help to relieve the pain from these spasms, and relax the tightened muscles in the back.
The application of heat causes the blood vessels of the affected muscle to dilate, increasing the flow of blood to the muscle, which allows more oxygen and nutrients to reach the damaged tissue, helping it to heal more quickly.
Heat also stimulates the sensory receptors in the skin near the affected area, decreasing the pain signals sent to the brain by the damaged muscle. The relief of pain allows the body to relax, further easing discomfort.
Increased Flexibility
Another effect of easing tension is the longer-lasting benefit of increased flexibility. Heat facilitates the stretching of soft tissue around the spine, including connective tissue and adhesions, allowing stiffness to melt away, and helping to prevent future strain and spasms. When flexibility increases, stiffness and pain are reduced and overall health and comfort are improved.
Heat therapy is so beneficial because it is easy, convenient and non-invasive compared to pharmaceutical forms of relief and treatment.
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