Soaking in Hot Tubs Can Help Arthritis

Have you ever felt so much stiffness and pain in your joints that you wanted to lie down in your bed all day and not move? It’s time to take action to help your body. The good news is, helping your body can be as simple as relaxing with a nice soak in a hot hub.

The Healing Power of Hot Water

Hot water is an ancient source of “medicine” or treatment that has been scientifically proven to help with all sorts of musculoskeletal complaints. Many doctors advise their patients to treat arthritis with alternating heat and cold treatments to help reduce bloating, inflammation, pain, and stiffness. So, taking a nice hot bath in a hot tub is a type of hydrotherapy that not only alleviates our physical pains, but also relaxes our minds. Since we’re soaking in hot tubs to help reduce the physical stress caused by arthritis, we should set it up to be the most helpful from a treatment perspective. It’s advised to use hot water, but not hot enough to cause burns.

Soaking in a Hot Tub to Alleviate Arthritis Pain

Before starting the treatment, it would be best to adjust the temperature to a degree that’s comfortable for the human body, which is typically around 33-37C. We can soak ourselves in the hot tub before and after we exercise for at least 15 minutes each time to help loosen up our muscles and leave us with minimal pain. Don’t go overboard though, 20 minutes is the maximum beneficial time. We might start to feel lightheaded after spending too much time in the hot tub. Be very cautious and consult your doctor before entering the tub if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, or if you’re pregnant. By simply sitting in a hot tub, the moist heat relaxes our muscles, boosts blood circulation, and reduces stiffness and spasms in our muscles.

Benefits of Epsom Salts for Muscle Relaxation

One possible reason for the cause of arthritis is our lack of magnesium, which is an element that is essential for bone and heart health. So, add some Epsom salts — magnesium sulphate crystals —while you relax in the hot tub. They can easily be found sitting on the shelves of drug store shelves, but remember the salts are only for occasional use. Also, try to move around and gently stretch a little in the hot tub since the warm water protects your body. Patients have found even after getting out of the tub, there is “a prolonged effect that goes beyond the period of immersion” according to research done by Bruce E. Becker, MD, director of the National Aquatics & Sports Medicine Institute at Washington State University in Spokane.

Maximizing the Effects of Hydrotherapy with Jet Streams

Not only will the hot water help relieve muscles pains, the massaging jet streams of water will also maximize the effects. The buoyancy of the water diminishes the pressure of gravity on the body and supports the body for easier, lighter movements. Meanwhile, the self-controllable jet streams of the hot tub will help us loosen up the stiffness of our muscles at the right spot with the right tempo and strength. If you’re being bothered by the pains from arthritis, try soaking yourself in a hot tub with massaging options — the simplest, most harmless way to reduce your stresses and arthritis pain. Feel free to book an appointment if you have any more questions or concerns. You can reach us at (905) 294-8030, or (905) 853-8500, or by email at online@seawaypoolsntubs.com. Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the benefits from your hot tub.