Using Your Hot Tub for Pain Relief and Better Overall Quality of Life

Pain doesn’t just mean discomfort; it also often means limitations, as it can get in the way of living your fullest life. You may struggle to be active because your muscles and joints ache under the impact of exercise. You may experience persistent pain in the course of a routine day or even when relaxing. Whatever the source of your pain, it can cause you to become discouraged when you can’t find reliable relief.

More and more, people are discovering that soaking in a hot tub can provide the relief and comfort they need to empower control over their pain. Many weave hot tub hydrotherapy into their daily lives. Just like sleeping, soaking in a home spa becomes a daily ritual they can’t do without. You, too, can personalize your hot tub soak for the pain relief and relaxation you need to keep up with the demands of your life.

HOW DOES YOUR HOT TUB RELIEVE ACUTE AND CHRONIC PAIN?

Hydrotherapy is an alternative therapy recognized for temporary pain relief of ailments such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, muscle and joint pain, fibromyalgia, and aches and discomfort following exercise. Studies indicate that the benefits of spa therapy result from a combination of chemical, mechanical, and thermal factors at work. But remember, while hot tubs are recommended for many pain sufferers, you should always consult your physician for health advice.
When you sink into your hot tub, the effect of buoyancy decreases stress on your muscles and joints, allowing for a period of recovery. Water immersion contributes to that recovery by inspiring relaxation of the mind and the body. Researchers propose that the water’s temperature and pressure against the body help to impede signals of pain to the brain, lessening the actual sensations of pain. This proposition is based on the Gate Control Theory, which suggests that there is a gate-like design to the central nervous system that allows or blocks pain signals based on stimuli.

Thermal water immersion may also serve to reduce muscle spasms and diminish the pain. In fact, it’s common for your mood to improve as you soak in your hot tub. Powerful anecdotal evidence suggests that using a hot tub regularly not only relieves mental and physical tension, but also improves quality of life in the long term. Consider what Lou, an avid Hot Spring user from New Jersey, has to say about how his hot tub helps to alleviate pain and keep him active.

Your hot tub’s innovative jet massage system allows for active recovery even as you relax in the soothing water. When full-body immersion is practiced, you treat not only the painful areas of your body, but also the muscles, joints, and interconnected tissues that surround those areas. This therapy for widespread relaxation can, therefore, help to relieve acute pain experiences and help to prevent related tension from spreading to surrounding tissues.

Hydrotherapy delivers so much more than once-in-awhile luxury. When practiced, it becomes an integral therapy method that helps to powerfully transform your life and your experience of pain.

HOW TO USE YOUR HOT TUB FOR PAIN RELIEF AND MANAGEMENT

Your hot tub puts pain relief in your own hands. Hydrotherapy is often suggested in conjunction with medical treatment, but it is also an independent therapy that you can reap the holistic benefits of over and over—for the rest of your life.

If you experience pain on a regular basis, a hot tub soak can warm your body and loosen your muscles so you can engage in physical activity with fewer aches and pains. Hydrotherapy can also prevent the stiffness and discomfort that come from inactivity and stagnant energy. When you soak in your home spa on a daily basis, you’ll enjoy greater flexibility and additional energy throughout the day.

Here are some tips for incorporating hot tub hydrotherapy into your life for pain relief and pain management:

Put your comfort first. You took the time to choose a hot tub that fits your comfort needs. The best hot tub manufacturers take great care when designing the seats and lounge spaces for ultimate comfort and integration with the massage jets. So, take full advantage of them every time you soak, moving from seat to seat to target specific muscle groups.

Adjust controls to personalize your experience. Experiment with your hot tubs jet settings for therapeutic massage of your localized or widespread pain areas. Your spa’s controls empower you to personalize your soaks for greater relaxation or deeper massaging relief.

Choose a comfortable temperature for a 20-minute soak. It is recommended that your spa temperature doesn’t exceed 104 degrees. But you may want to start with a lower temperature (98 to 100 degrees), and then increase it according to your comfort level and the therapeutic effects on your pain recovery.

Take advantage of warm water immersion and buoyancy to stretch and move in your spa. A 20-minute soak offers the perfect opportunity to engage in low-impact exercise that can stimulate your muscles and joints, and improve flexibility. Focus on your joints, one at a time, and slowly bend and rotate according to your comfort level. The buoyancy of the water takes some of the stress off of your body as you move, and its resistance provides productive exercise. Also use your hot tub to warm up before exercise and wind down after.
Hydrate before and after your hot tub soak. Your body works hard to rejuvenate even when you’re just relaxing, and your spa’s warm water can cause you to sweat. So, drink plenty of water to regulate your body temperature and feed your joints and muscles.

When pain is a part of your life, you long for comfort and the ability to be active once again. Hydrotherapy can provide that relief to help you thrive and enjoy the active life you desire. When you feel nurtured and at home in your hot tub, you also feel at home in your body.