What are the benefits of a hot tub?
The healing power of water dates back through the ages to Greek and Egyptian times. Since then water has been used by many cultures all seeing the benefits of hydrotherapy and owning a hot tub or spa. It’s deemed essential for a relaxed and healthy lifestyle. Here are just a few of the benefits that owning a hot tub can bring to you.
Exercise and Workouts
Using a hot tub for sports and workouts can aid your fitness regime. Before you workout, using a hot tub for a brief time can help loosen muscles and joints ready for exercise. A short soak can also increase blood flow around the body and improve circulation. Although it is not advised to use a hot tub after a workout because your muscles are inflamed and the hot water can add to dehydration.
Hot tubs can also be used to perform light exercise in. The warm water can help you loosen up first. Then using the buoyancy of the water you can carry out movement exercises and stretching. This helps keeps your joints and muscles supple and loose.
Promote Healing
Hot tubs help to promote healing. Water jets and warm water help relax and aid healing of sore muscles. Strong, well positioned water jets are crucial to the health giving benefits of the hot tub because they focus an intense flow of oxygenated water and heat to specific areas. The therapeutic combination increases your level of antibodies and white blood cells, which in turn promotes the destruction of bad cells and stimulates the growth of new tissue.
Ease back pain
We often get asked if a hot tub help ease my back pain. A study printed in the British Journal of Rheumatology in 2005 showed an improvement in pain and mobility to patients that had been treated using a hot tub. The study showed more improvement in the patients than those who were just treated with medication. Regular use of a hot tub can ease back pain in a number of ways. Firstly with the warm water. A hot tub is an effective way of getting heat to the problem area to provide relief. Secondly hydrotherapy water jets can help massage sore muscles and deliver continuous heat deeper into the muscles. The concentrated water pressure can be focused on a particular area. The hot tub can also reduce stress and thus reduce tension on the affected areas.
Reduce the symptoms of Arthritis
Scientific studies have shown the use of a hot tub can improve the general condition of people with certain types of arthritis. They help ease pain and increase range of movement and flexibility. The hot water aids circulation and relaxes the muscles thereby dulling muscular pain. It also helps rid the body of lactic acid and other metabolic waste. The buoyancy of the water will lower the weight on joints and reduce friction giving further relief. So those with conditions such as rheumatism, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or even paralysis, may find particular benefit. The Arthritis UK site has much more information on this.
Blood Pressure
As well as dealing with muscular aches and pains, your hot tub can also help reduce your blood pressure. Studies have shown using hot tub can reduce blood pressure. This is achieved through the body’s natural reaction to sudden increases in temperature. When you step into the hot tub, your body will attempt to maintain its core temperature by raising the heart rate and blood pressure in order to pump blood to the surface where it would normally be cooled. Because you are in the hot tub however, the blood is warmed instead, and as the warm blood circulates through your system, your blood vessels will dilate resulting in a reduction in blood pressure. In fact using a hot tub can mimic cardiac exercise!
Insomnia & Stress Relief
Good for the spirit as well as the body, a hot tub can also help you to cope with the stresses of modern life, refreshing you mentally and emotionally with the warm water helping the body to release endorphins to naturally reduce stress. A fifteen minute soak in the morning can awaken and revive you, putting you in the right frame of mind for the day ahead, and another before bed time can facilitate deep and restful sleep. The National Sleep Foundation suggests that soaking in a hot tub before bed can lead to a much deeper sleep. And have you thought how pleasant it might be to relax and unwind with your loved ones in warm, soothing ripples after a hard day.
Diabetes
The NHS estimate by the year 2030, the number of diabetes sufferers will have risen to 4.6 million. 90% of these people will have type 2 diabetes. A pilot study carried out by the New England Journal of Medicine (September 16 issue) helped a group of type 2 diabetes sufferers reduce their blood sugar levels, lose weight and help improved their sleep. The patients used a hot tub 6 times a week for 30 minutes each day. The results showed blood glucose levels were lower and also a reduction in weight.
At home for relaxing, socialising and Fun!
Last but definitely not least and in many case what a hot tub will mostly be used for – Relaxing and having fun. Hot tubs are great for all aspects of family life, the kids love using them, they are great for parties and BBQ’s and just relaxing in the evening. Having a hot tub allows you to enjoy your garden and outdoors all year round.