Many physiotherapists around the world highly recommend spending time in a spa to help improve recovery after minor muscle and joint injuries. How does it all happen? How can a spa help you heal after an injury?
Most of the benefits you will experience are often attributed to the hot temperature of the water, which can have a remarkably positive effect on your body, and help you heal faster than you would by simply relying on regular physiotherapy.
Let’s take a closer look at the part that hot tubs play in the recovery process following a minor injury.
How Hydrotherapy Helps
There are many wonderful health benefits of hot tubs.
Hydrotherapy is currently gaining momentum as one of the most effective forms of physical therapy, although it has been around for thousands of years. The Ancient Romans, as well as other ancestral civilizations, had been familiar with the remarkable qualities of hot spa water for many centuries. In Rome, for instance, bathing at the public baths was considered an extremely important social function.
Even the poorest people were able to bathe in beneficial thermal waters for free, due to the popularity of public baths. The wealthy, of course, had access to better water and private spas, but it is very interesting to see how the Romans understood the power of hydrotherapy and all its benefits, to the point that they went to great lengths to make it available to the general public through a sophisticated thermal bath system.
The same principles of hydrotherapy are currently in use today. The warm water inside a hot tub can help users to recover from injuries, due to a powerful combination of buoyancy, heat, and massage.
How Hydrotherapy Helps Heal Muscles
The first thing you’ll notice as you immerse your body into the sparkling water of the hot tub is how warm and comfortable the water is. This heat can an almost immediate effect on your body, helping your muscles to loosen up and release built-up tension.
Once your body begins to relax and you start to really enjoy yourself, the buoyancy of the water will be the next thing you notice. Your body will be considerably lighter, as the water lifts pressure and weight from your sore and aching muscles and joints. Without the added weight on the world on your shoulders, your body can focus solely on relaxation and rejuvenation.
Lastly, once your body is in a pure state of utter relaxation, the powerful jets can begin to really work their magic. These jets are installed strategically throughout the hot tub to target the most stress-prone areas of the body. This includes your neck, shoulders, upper back, and feet.
While this combination of physical properties is having an immediate effect on your body and mind, a deeper form of healing is happening simultaneously. The healing environment inside the hot tub can help promote healing through improved circulation. The heat can help improve your circulation and the production of positive endorphins, ultimately helping reduce feelings of pain and anxiety.
It has been said that the circulating water causes a mechanical stimulation to the skin, resulting in a reflex anesthetic effect and significantly decreased muscle spasms.
Hydrotherapy can also help:
- Mitigate symptoms of muscle strains, sprains, and other small injuries
- Alleviate back pain
- Ease symptoms of arthritis
- Help restore range of motion
- Bring your body into a calm and relaxing state
How Often Should You Soak In a Hot Tub During Recovery
While recovering from injuries, it is important to practice physiotherapy as often as possible. Some people can do it every day, while others will be able to see a dedicated physiotherapist a couple of times a week
The same applies to hydrotheapy. You could comfortably and safely bathe every day, but be careful on straining your body and don’t spend more than 20-30 minutes consecutively in hot water!
Importance Of Speaking With a Doctor
Hydrotherapy has many incredible benefits. Having said that, relaxing in a hot tub should not be seen as a way to replace physiotherapy but as a powerful enhancement that can complement it! It’s highly recommended that you speak with a physician before using a hot tub to treat an injury or health condition.
Feel free to get in touch with us at AJ Spa & Hot Tubs if you have any further questions or looking for additional information. We have a wide selection of hot tubs for sale in Patchogue at our spa and outdoor living dealership, with top brands like Sundance® Spas, Life’s Great Spas, and Dream Maker Spas
