Undoubtedly, the first human beings to come across a sparkling, warm-water spring entered the soothing waters after a long day of hunting and gathering, and said, “Ahhhhhh.” From ancient times to modern day, people have intuitively been drawn to the restorative powers of hydrotherapy. Can something that feels so good actually be good for you? Happily, the answer is a resounding “Yes.”
Today there is a body of research to support the use of warm-water immersion and hydro acupressure bubbles, to promote healing and increase both a physical and mental sense of well-being.
Alleviation of Stress
For most of us, stress is now an unavoidable part of everyday life. Over the long term, without the use of appropriate stress management techniques, your health will begin to suffer.
Hydrotherapy is one of the easiest ways to reduce the effects of stress on both your body and your mind. This, in turn, encourages release of endorphins, a naturally occurring substance in the body which induces a sense of well-being. For stress relief, we recommend using our hydrotherapy at least three times a week at a temperature that allows 20 minutes of immersion. Additionally, aromatherapies can be combined with hydrotherapy by adding essential oils that are available especially for use in your therapy.
Natural Aid to Sound Sleep
A good night’s sleep is vital to your health and safety. The National Sleep Foundation , among other experts on sleep, recognizes a regular soak in a hot tub as an excellent way to prepare for a night of sound sleep.
To obtain more restful sleep and to overcome insomnia take up a hydrotherapy session in the evening, this will raise your body temperature. The therapy helps clear your mind of stresses that can disturb sleep. The essential oils were chosen particularly to aid natural sleep. Once you leave the hot tub, your body temperature will fall, providing a natural inducement to falling into a deep, sound sleep.
Muscle and Joint Health
After just 12 minutes in a hot tub, deep muscle temperature increases to reach the temperature of the water. This has been shown to provide relief to sore or injured muscles and joints and promote healing of injured tissue. While hydrotherapy will benefit almost anyone with common muscle fatigue or joint pain.
Fitness Benefits
The hydrotherapy is well-suited for a water-based exercise program. To quote directly from a 2009 study: Aquatic activity impacts the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, autonomic nervous system and endocrine systems in ways that have positive public health implications for issues, including obesity, diabetes, and arthritis. When using your hot tub to increase your overall physical fitness, you may adopt an exercise program or simply enjoy the heart-healthy effects of a daily soak.Thus 20 minutes of our Hydrotherapy session burns minimum 250 calories without any exercise movements inside the tub.
In a water workout, the buoyancy provided by water reduces the impact on your joints which occurs on dry land. Many people with a physical limitation that restricts them from using traditional gym equipment or engaging in vigorous exercise are able to accomplish a water-workout that can improve and restore strength and flexibility.
But we’ll let you in on a secret: simply sitting and soaking can provide many of the benefits of a more strenuous aerobic workout. In a study cited in the New England Journal of Medicine, a group of sedentary people added a 30 minute daily hot tub immersion to their routines, reducing their weight by an average of 3.75 pounds over the course of the three week study.
Immersion in hot water increases blood flow to central organs, including the heart. As blood flow to the heart increases, the heart “exercises” by speeding up to accommodate the added volume. Of course, it is most appropriate to consult your doctor before starting a new program of treatment or strenuous exercise, especially if you have any pre-existing health or heart conditions.
Resources:
- Popke, Michael. “Calming Influence.” Athletic Business, March 2010. Magazine online. Retrieved from http://www.athleticbusiness.com/articles/article.aspx?articleid=2894&zoneid=43 on 11 June 2010.
- “Healthy Sleep Tips.” National Sleep Foundation website. Retrieved fromhttp://www.sleepfoundation.org/ article/sleep-topics/healthy-sleep-tips on 15 June 2010.
- PT Staff. “Hydrotherapy: The Soothing Power of Soaking.” Psychology Today, March 2001. Magazine online. Retrieved fromhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200103/hydrotherapy-the-soothing-power-soaking on 15 June 2010.
- Becker, Bruce E., et al. “Biophysiologic Effects of Warm Water Immersion.” International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 2009. Retrieved fromhttp://education.wsu.edu/research/nasmi/publications/BiophysiologicEffectsofWarmWaterImmersion.pdf on 14 June 2010.