What Is Hydrotherapy?
One of the most popular reasons for buying a hot tub is the health and wellness benefits associated with it. Hydrotherapy is the practice of using heated water for pain relief and management—and the best hot tubs promote health and wellness with hydrotherapy.
How does it work? Hydrotherapy in a spa is based on the winning combination of three elements: heat, buoyancy, and massage. The heat dilates blood vessels to increase blood flow to sore or damaged tissue. Buoyancy reduces body weight by 90 percent, alleviating pressure on joints and muscles. And massage performs the ultimate spa mission, relaxing muscles and relieving pressure on nerves. It also boosts circulation and accelerates the body’s natural healing process.
With a combination of powerful Fluidix® jets and seats sculpted to harmonize with your body, Sundance® spas leverage the power of water’s healing benefits. So why buy a spa? Consider
- Relieving the Pain of Arthritis and Other Chronic Conditions
- Remedying Aches and Pain Naturally
- Boosting Immunity
- Reducing the Risk of Injury During Exercise
- Decreasing Stress
- Strengthening Bonds with Family and Friends
- Increasing Productivity
- Getting a Better Night’s Sleep
Relieving the Pain of Arthritis and Other Chronic Conditions
A soak in a spa is beneficial for so many people, but the pulsating thermal waters have particular benefits for those dealing with arthritis pain. Doctors at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine report that hydrotherapy provides a viable option for improving pain, mobility, and quality of life in patients with arthritis.
Some people with arthritis even report that the warm water makes it easier to do gentle stretching in the hot tub. This stretching helps with increased grip strength, mobility, and flexibility.
Those experiencing chronic pain from other conditions, such as fibromyalgia, can also find relief from their symptoms through hydrotherapy. Spa time has been found to have a calming effect on people living with fibromyalgia, helping lift their spirits and relieve some of their pain.
Boosting Immunity
Because it increases circulation, hot water hydrotherapy can boost the immune system[1], helping it work more efficiently. The stimulated immune system also helps injured tissue heal faster.
Of course, there’s no guarantee you won’t catch a cold or the flu when everyone around you is sick. But you can find relief from cold or flu symptoms by spending time in your hot tub. Just like putting your face over a bowl of steaming water helps clear your nasal passages, relaxing in a hot tub can help clear your nose and throat. Just remember to keep a facial tissue or handkerchief nearby in case your nose starts to run. And be sure to consult your physician before engaging in hydrotherapy when you’re sick, especially if you have a fever.
Reducing the Risk of Injury During Exercise
Stretching relaxes the soft tissues around the joints, making them more pliable. Though it’s widely recognized that stretching is beneficial, you may experience difficulty doing stretches and exercises on dry land. The solution? The warm, bubbly water of your spa. The heated water makes it more comfortable to perform simple stretches, and the water’s buoyancy and support creates less impact on your joints.
Decreasing Stress
If you’re stressed, you’re familiar with the symptoms—tension headaches, tight shoulders, and an overall sense of feeling overwhelmed. You need to relax and de-stress to experience optimal mental and physical wellness, and your hot tub is the place where that can happen.
In fact, studies at Washington State University[2] found that immersion in warm water actually alters the autonomic nervous system, creating changes similar to those experienced during relaxation. Spa time also helps reduce anxiety. A Sundance® spa provides a safe haven from the pressure and worries that fill a day. Just let the soothing warm water and massaging jets help you release your cares and feel like yourself again.
More Spa, Less Stress: Select a Size thats Perfect for your Needs
Strengthening Bonds with Friends and Family
Owning a hot tub isn’t only a luxury for your muscles and mind; it’s also a great way to connect with the special people in your life. Having a hot tub provides a place of connection with your family–without technology. After a long day, you can look forward to relaxing with your loved ones in the hot tub and sharing the type of conversation that never happens when everyone is glued to a screen.
Of course, your spa will also make the perfect place for a date night any time you and your partner need to reconnect. And why not make it a neighborhood-gathering place, too? Invite your friends and neighbors over for some cool drinks, finger foods, and a relaxing soak.
Increasing Productivity
As much as a hot tub can do for your personal life, it can benefit your work life and productivity as well. The ability to shut out daily demands allows you to decompress and renew your strength, which will prepare you to take on the world after your soak. So, rather than thinking of things you should be doing when you step into your home spa, concentrate on how much more energized you’ll feel after taking 20 minutes to relax and renew.
After all, the warmth of the water and the massaging jets help increase circulation, stimulate muscles, and ease joint pain. What better recipe for productivity?
Getting a Better Night’s Sleep
Studies have found that spending 20 minutes in a warm spa before bedtime can get your body ready for sleep, thanks to the changes in body temperature and an overall feeling of relaxation. The buoyancy of the warm water decompresses your joints, while your heartbeat decreases to a resting state.
And if you suffer from restless legs syndrome—a major cause of insomnia—experts say you can calm your lower extremities by spending time in the spa before bed.
Of course, insomnia can strike at any time, and for a variety of reasons. That’s why the National Sleep Foundation recommends establishing a regular bedtime routine to prepare your body for sleep. Time in a spa can be a relaxing part of that routine, and can significantly improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep.
An investment in a hot tub is an investment in a better life. You can reap the benefits of ownership not only in your physical body, but also in your mental and emotional health, as well as in connections with the people you love. Head to your local Sundance® Spas dealer to learn more about how to invest in the spa life—and enjoy the lifestyle that goes along with it.
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