Hot tub therapy is just as simple as it sounds. All you need to do is get in the hot tub, exhale and relax as your aches, pains and worries melt away.
But does it really work, and can it give you the specific benefits you’re looking for?
Keep reading to find out, and be sure to get your swimsuit ready: you’ll want to hop in the hot tub by the time this article is finished.
Here are four unique benefits of hot tub therapy you need to know about:
- Relief of muscle pain and tightness.
- Relief of joint pain and stiffness.
- Restful sleep.
- Increased circulation.
1. Relief of Muscle Pain and Tightness
If you’ve ever treated a pulled muscle with a warm compress, then you already know how heat can soothe sore and tight muscles.
According to an article from John Hopkins Medicine titled, “Ice Packs vs. Warm Compresses for Pain,” heat works so well for muscle pain because it increases blood flow and helps muscles relax.
Thanks to their all-encompassing heat, hot tubs can be even more effective than warm compresses. After all, a soak in a hot tub will apply heat to every inch of your body that’s submerged, while a warm compress will only affect a comparatively small area.
Massage therapy is a great way to relieve tension and soothe sore muscles. Studies show that people who receive massages are more likely than those without this treatment to present reduced levels of stress hormones like cortisol, which can help them sleep better at night!
It’s also been shown as having positive effects on blood circulation in the body by raising your metabolism while causing relaxation through various techniques. This form of therapeutic touch reduces inflammation caused by the day-to-day use of your body by increasing oxygen flow throughout our bodies.
Making a routine out of using a hot tub can actually help you live a better life. Live a little freer! Run with your kids or grandkids, don’t be so worried about muscle cramps and spasms, you can ever work out a little harder. Go the extra mile, and know that when you get home you’ll have a personal masseuse waiting on you. Those hot tub jets will carry away the stress of your everyday life.
Massage can be a great way to relax after work, especially if you are feeling stressed. Warm water massages have both physical and mental benefits for people who use them! Your body’s nervous system reacts positively in response when receiving warm water hot tub therapy treatment. Relaxing muscle tissue through jet massage may help ease muscle contractions and spasms as well as nerve compression caused by chronic pain. Just a little daily time in your hot tub as a preventative measure can change your outlook on life!
2. Relief of Joint Pain and Stiffness
Hot tubs aren’t just great for aching muscles. They’re also excellent at treating painful, stiff joints, whether you have a chronic condition or a simple sprain.
As the Arthritis Foundation explained in an article titled, “Warm Water Works Wonders on Pain,” that’s partly because water relieves the pressure that gravity puts on joints.
Then, the warmth of the water stimulates blood flow and helps to relax the tendons and ligaments surrounding the joints. This makes it easier to painlessly stretch the joint while enjoying a relaxing soak.
Hot tubs have been proven to be a great way to improve the flexibility and range of motion in stiff joints. The hot water helps to loosen up the muscles and tissues, which makes it easier for them to move and then ultimately makes it easier for you to move. Hot tubs aren’t just great for mental stress relief but also for the stress your body endures on a daily basis. Sitting, standing, bending over, picking things up – it all adds up and takes a toll on your body.
Joint pain can also be caused by a variety of other things, such as arthritis, an injury, or overuse. It can be very painful and make it difficult to move the joint. Again, these are issues that can impact your daily life. No one deserves to be in pain every day! That’s why we’re so passionate about making hot tubs that make your quality of life better. We know what it’s like to have the pressures of daily life, both mentally and physically, build up and cause undue stress.
Stress can have a major impact on both our mental and physical health. It can cause us to feel anxious, tense, and overwhelmed, and can lead to problems such as headaches, stomachaches, and sleep problems. Stress can also have a negative impact on our physical health, causing things like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.
Our hot tubs are made to help with all of these things. We want your life to be easier and stress free!
3. Restful Sleep
It turns out that hot tubs can help you stay relaxed long after you’ve dried off. Specifically, soaking in a hot tub before going to sleep can help you get better, more restful sleep.
In 2000, the Journal of Physiological Anthropology and Applied Human Sciences published a Japanese study titled, “Effects of bathing and hot footbath on sleep in winter.”
That study found that warm water immersion, whether from a full-body soak to a hot footbath, helped participants fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly.
We don’t want to sound the alarm here but lack of sleep has been proven to lead to a number of health problems! Here are a few ways that lack of sleep can hurt you.
First, it can make you more likely to get sick. Second, it can make you more likely to get injured. Third, it can lead to weight gain. Fourth, it can cause problems with your memory and concentration. Fifth, it can lead to depression and anxiety. Sixth, it can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. Seventh, it can cause problems with your immune system. Eighth, it can lead to diabetes.
Those are serious health concerns! Ones we don’t want you to have to deal with.
Hot Tubs really do help you sleep better at night. We’ve already mentioned it before but the same warm water that helps relax your muscles and ease any tension or stress you may be feeling can help to improve circulation, which can also lead to better sleep. So take that dip right before bedtime and relax and de-stress after a long day! Make that a nightly routine and you just might get the best sleep of your life!
Read this article on 5 types of Hydrotherapy you should know about!
4. Increased Circulation
Healthy blood flow can have a number of positive effects. By carrying more oxygen and nutrients to the body’s cells, good circulation:
- Promotes proper organ function.
- Speeds up healing.
- Reduces strain on the heart.
So, you’ll be glad to know that a relaxing hot tub session can also help to boost blood flow.
A 2016 study published in the Journal of Physiology confirmed that repeated hot water immersion has various cardiovascular benefits. The peer-reviewed study, “Passive heat therapy improves endothelial function, arterial stiffness and blood pressure in sedentary humans,” found that eight weeks of repeated hot water immersion therapy:
- Reduced arterial stiffness.
- Reduce blood pressure.
- Improved endothelial function.
Translation: regularly immersing yourself in hot water can measurably improve your heart health. If you have a preexisting heart condition, just be sure to check with your doctor before you start soaking.
The bottom line is that hot tub therapy can have a profoundly positive impact on your health. Given that hot tubs are also fun and relaxing, there’s no reason not to use them whenever you please.
Looking for more? Learn about other hot tub benefits here, or check out our guide to hot tub safety here.
