Often considered a luxury, hot tubs are actually a beneficial therapeutic tool. There are many health conditions and sources of chronic pain that can be eased by hot tub therapy. The combination of the integrated massaging jets, heat and natural buoyancy of the water make these tubs a great option for helping people cope with a variety of health conditions. Here are just a few of the chronic problems that routine hot tub therapy may help with.
Muscle and Joint Aches and Pains
Most hot tubs include water jets that can massage your muscles. This can help to soothe some chronic muscle aches and pains. And, the buoyant nature of water will ease the burden of your body weight on joints. This can ease the persistent pain in joints from a variety of conditions. Whether your joint pain is from arthritis or another joint condition, hot tubs can provide you with some welcome relief. In fact, hot tubs are a recommended form of heat therapy for arthritis sufferers.
Restlessness and Insomnia
Insomnia and restless sleep can leave you feeling worn out, run down and confused. If you're struggling to get a good night's sleep, time in a hot tub may help. In fact, hot tubs can help to trigger the body's natural sleep cycle. This happens as a result of the increase in your core body temperature when you're in the water.
Your body temperature will begin to lower when you get out of the water, and this natural drop over the hour or so will start to trigger melatonin release. Additionally, the water buoyancy will help your muscles relax, leaving you more at ease. Loosening this muscle tension may help you drift into a sound sleep.
Circulatory Problems
Heat is a natural vasodilator, which means that it causes your blood vessels to dilate. If you have circulatory problems, such as high blood pressure or poor circulation, a hot tub can actually help improve your circulation by opening up your blood vessels.
It's important that you talk with a doctor about hot tub therapy if you have high blood pressure, though. If you move to quickly from a hot tub to a cool shower, you'll risk increasing your blood pressure to an unsafe level. If your doctor has suggested that you avoid exercise, check with him or her before getting into a hot tub.
Athletic Injuries
If you are active in sports, the risk of an athletic injury is not something to be underestimated. Hot tubs can actually help to reduce that risk, because they can loosen up your muscles and help improve your blood flow to the muscle tissue. For this reason, adding time in a hot tub to your pre-game routine can help make exercise and physical activity easier.
You can also gain some benefit from soaking in a hot tub after your workout routine or game. By soaking in hot water immediately after physical activity, you'll help reduce your risk of muscle stiffness from the activity. If you've ever spent the day after an intense workout achy, this may be the solution that you need. Add the water jets while you're soaking to soothe any muscles that may have been overworked.
As you can see, hot tubs are for much more than just a patio hideaway. If you have any of these chronic conditions, you may find that hot tub therapy is a great way to ease your symptoms. Talk with a local hot tub and spa company about which hot tub style is best for your home. By adding one to your house, you'll have access to the benefits of the water at any time.
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