Most people know what a hot tub is, but beyond being a place to soak in warm, bubbling water, far fewer know exactly what hot tubs can be used for. The fact is, there are many different uses for a hot tub, and they don’t just pertain to high end hotels, ski hills and hot spring resorts. Hot tubs are actually becoming more accessible to the average person. More people are installing them inside their homes or in their backyards while many public gyms and swimming pools are offering them as well. We’ve come up with an article to help answer the question, “What are hot tubs used for?”
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is the use of water to treat various conditions and ailments. The practice has been around for thousands of years. Today’s hot tubs have adjustable functions that allow them to be used for a wide variety of purposes, both physical and mental. The heat of the water and its buoyant properties can help with physical ailments, while the warm water and the solitary and social environments it offers can help with mental issues.
Stress Relief
There are several ways in which a hot tub can help with the relief of stress. Warm water is well known for allowing one to relax and bring down the heart rate. Hot tubs have been used to help people fall asleep as well as promote a deeper, more relaxed state of sleep. Similarly, physical issues like muscle tension, fatigue and headaches can be relieved by both the warm waters and the massaging water jets. This combination of heat and massage has been found to reduce stress inducing hormone levels in the bloodstream while releasing pain relieving hormones such as dopamine. If one wants a non-medicinal way of promoting stress relief, a hot tub is a good option.
Pain Relief
As mentioned, the warmth and massaging action of hot tubs promote the release of the natural pain relievers into the bloodstream. Hot tubs are often used by athletes to relieve sore, overworked muscles. Many of the higher end hot tubs feature a water jet massage circuit which allows a person to move from seat to seat to provide relief to different sets of muscles. This massage circuit can also be useful for people with arthritis, joint pain and soft tissue ailments.
Lower Blood Pressure
Warm water and massage can be effective in improving blood circulation throughout the body which can result in lowering the blood pressure. What happens is that the blood vessels dilate, allowing the blood to flow more easily while reducing the amount of work the heart must do to keep things moving. Although the blood pressure might initially rise due to the higher temperatures, the blood vessel dilation ultimately reduces the internal pressure. This can help people who experience the symptoms of poor circulation such as tingling in the extremities, cold feet and hands or cramping. Spending some time in a hot tub may provide temporary relief.
If you’d like to learn more about the health benefits of using a hot tub as well as the different models that are available, download a free hot tub buyer’s guide.