Hot Tub Benefits

Hot tub benefits go beyond having a status symbol in the backyard. There are real health and well-being benefits to owning your own hot tub.

Hot Tub Benefits After Workout

Maximize your workout benefits by taking a soak in the hot tub after you work out. The warm soothing waters will help increase blood flow.

Arthritis

Did you know the Arthritis foundation actually published a piece that extoles the benefits of warm water massage therapy?

Athletes

Athletes love Jacuzzis. Some sports complexes actually have hot tubs installed in or near the locker rooms.

Back Pain Relief

APTA benefits hydrotherapy Back pain is a huge issue across the United States and around the world. Causes of back pain can include sitting too long without getting up and moving around to stretch, sitting on a wallet, poor posture, bad diet, lack of exercise and stretching, bad mattress and more.

Hot tub water relaxes muscles including back muscles and provides for better blood flow to aid healing. Back massages have long provided temporary relief of back pain, so a hydromassage can achieve similar results. Your doctor or chiropractor can suggest stretching exercises to strengthen core muscles and aid in supporting back muscles.

Spine flexibility is also improved by soaking in hot, massaging water by reducing stiffness. The American Physical Therapy Organization did a survey and found positive results with respect to lower back pain.

Highlights from the "Move Forward" Low Back Pain Survey by APTA include:

More than one-third of adults say low back pain has affected their ability to engage in tasks of daily living (39 percent), exercise (38 percent), and sleep (37 percent).
Low back pain isn't just for those who spend a lot of time on their feet. In fact, more than half (54 percent) of Americans who experience low back pain spend the majority of their workday sitting.
Men (31 percent) are more likely than women (20 percent) to report that low back pain affects their ability to do work.
When experiencing low back pain, nearly three in four (72 percent) Americans use pain medication as a way to relieve their symptoms. More than half (55 percent) said they use heat and cold packs at home for relief.

The survey also shows many are reaching to heat or cold packs for temporary relief. A hot tub would work wonders instead of a small heat pack. Most lower back pain is just caused by strain, overuse or an injury, but serious problems such as a herniated disc or osteoarthritis require professional treatment or a physical therapist.

Core strengthening exercises can help improve localized muscle strength and help to take the load off of key back muscles. Back strengthening exercises are one part of the solution to look into. Also strengthen hamstring muscles by stretching to avoid this source of additional lower back stress.

In any case it is best to treat the problem with lifestyle changes rather than just popping pills (sorry pharma companies, but natural remedies, exercise and treatments should provide more long term benefits to acute back pain sufferers).

Working with hot tub helps to stimulate blood flow across the back muscles and transports healing nutrients to affected areas of the lower back. The pain messages sent to the brain are also reduced as endorphines are released.

If a pinched muscle or unexercised muscle is allowed to manifest itself unchecked, muscle tension occurs and blood flow is restricted. The result is a reduced oxygen supply as well as metabolic waste and lactic acid buildup. We feel pain. With a hot water massage, the blood flow is restored, nutrients and oxygen travels further and muscles relax, thus reducing pain.

When not to use a hot tub or heat pack for muscle injuries? When the acute injury first occurs, an ice pack can help reduce inflammation and swelling.

Cerebral Palsy

Companionship and Quality Time

Having a hot tub is great for providing quality time with spouse, family and friends. Relaxing together and enjoying an evening under the stars can give us more down time to connect with each other during our busy days.

General Health and Well-Being Benefits

There are many health and well-being benefits listed on this page. Heat from the water also can raise the level of anti-bodies in the immune system as well as stimulate white blood cells. Heat improves the circulatory system, blood circulation and damaged tissue recovery. The hydromassage benefits aid in muscle tension relief, pain relief and stress relief. The water's natural buoyancy helps to reduce pressure on aching muscles, spine and joints.

Hot Tub Therapy - Hydrotherapy

Even hundreds and thousands of years ago from the ancient onsens of Japan to the hot natural bubbling waters of Rotoroa, New Zealand, natural hot springs have been around for a very long time. These waters were thought to be healing waters and do provide a wide variety of health and well-being benefits to this day. Muscle therapy benefits from hot water just as from a heat pack for localized treatment. Muscles are relaxed and loosened up by the pulsating jets of a hot tub. A natural extension of this is to gain improved flexibility by slowly stretching tight muscle groups.

Hot water massage and relaxation are one of the many benefits of hydrotherapy. Most hot tubs provide a certain level of hydrotherapy, but clusters of jets can massage more pressure points at once vs. the single jet found in many hotel jacuzzis.

The natural buoyancy in warm water places less strain on sore muscles and also helps stretch muscle groups more difficult to stretch out "on land". Achieve lowering of blood pressure and pulse as well as increased circulation in both arms and legs. Does wonders for minor aches and piains, possibly helping to reduce medication and the side effects of medicine needed for relief.

Increased Circulation and Blood Flow

Relaxing in warm or hot water helps to raise the body temperature and aids in the dialation of blood vessels, resulting in improved blood flow and circulation. Released endorphines cause a feeling of well-being.

Sleep Better - Insomnia Relief

The first impulse when not being able to fall asleep is to pop some sleeping pills, but any kind of medicine when overused is usually not the best thing for the body. Instead, try soaking in the hot tub for 20-30 minutes before bedtime. Not only does it get you away from screens including television, computer or laptop, tablet, cellphone and more, but it provides a combination of warm water and massage benefits that can aid in getting a good night's rest.

Also be sure your mattress is not the problem. Many times lifestyle changes can improve health conditions without needing to reach for pills.

About 2 out of 3 chronic back pain sufferers also suffer from insomnia as the two can be related. Some suggested treatments for sleep problems include relaxation including relaxing in a hot tub, caffeine reduction, improved diet (fruits and veggies anyone?), exercies and stretching, psycological healing and stress reduction.

Try a soak in the hot tub to help against insomnia.

Sore Muscle Relief

The hydromassage benefits of soaking in a hot tub include relieving aching and sore muscles. It is like having your very own masseuse, plus you can target any area by moving the affected body section in front of a jet or cluster or massage jets.

Hot tubs are perfect for relieving sore muscles, arthritis pain, sprains, strains, bruises and joint stiffness. Help neck and back muscles as well as shouder, feet and leg muscles to relax and rejuvinate.

Stress Relief

Relaxation helps to improve the mental state and reduce stress. The increased flow of endorphines in the body make us feel better. Muscle relaxation leads to stress relief. Down time can help us gain perspective. The body's natural healing process is supported.

Weight Loss - Cellulite Reduction

Well it is undisputed that hot tubs can help with weight loss, even if it means keeping us away from the refrigerator :). The heat actually increases our metabolism which helps to burn body fat faster.

Note that most hot tubs have a maxium temperature of 104F for industry wide adopted safety reasons.

Do Not Use a Hot Tub When ... Risks of Hot Tub Use

As with anything in life, it is never one size fits all. For many, a hot tub is just "what the doctor ordered", but anytime heat or massage is not beneficial as is the case with those suffering with a fever, cardiac complications, seizures, open wounds, vascular disease or other medical conditions that should avoid heat, hot water or moving hot water.

Also those with diseases, conditions or illnesses such as pressure sores, bleeding, communicable diseases, skin infections, rashes or other spreadable conditions should not use a communal tub to avoid spreading disease or illness to others.

Certain circumstances may require the approval of a medical professional such as those with hypertension, cardiac issues, diabetes, pregnancy or other special circumstance.