9 Powerful Hot Tub Benefits
A hot tub is a place for personal improvement, where you can immerse yourself in warm water and massage to revitalize, slow down to recover, and connect with others to feel closer. Remarkable things happen when you make spending time in your spa part of your daily routine.
It's the best thing I ever did for myself. It's relaxing and it really helps aches and pains.
Hot Spring Spa Owner | New York
What Are the Health Benefits of Using a Hot Tub?
It’s no secret that spending time in a hot tub feels great, but the benefits of a warm soak extend beyond comfort and relaxation. Regular hot tub hydrotherapy sessions have been linked to improved physical and emotional well-being in many ways, including relieving muscle tension, improving mobility, promoting better sleep, and more. Here, we'll explore the top nine hot tub benefits you could experience when you make hydrotherapy part of your regular wellness routine.
1. Reduced Anxiety and Stress
Modern life can be hectic. Keeping up your busy schedule and attempting to balance work, school, and family can cause stress and anxiety that can take a toll on your quality of life. When the pressure starts to rise, a home hot tub can provide a quick, convenient, and healthy way to take a time out. The warm water and massaging jets could help to relax your body, and sitting back and gazing up at the stars or sharing the events of the day with your partner can calm your mind and help put the concerns of the day in perspective. Many hot tub owners rely on regular soaks to help them unplug, manage stress levels, and prepare their mind and body for a restful night’s sleep.
2. Improved Sleep
A good night's sleep is vital for health, yet millions of Americans suffer from sleep disorders, which can lead to increased stress and decreased productivity. A hot tub at home can help those suffering from occasional or chronic insomnia find relief. Research shows that soaking in hot water before bed may help to have deeper, more restful sleep because it helps the mind and body to relax. Additionally, soaking in warm water causes body temperature to increase. When you leave the warm water, your temperature drops, providing a natural signal to the body that it's time to sleep. Incorporating a warm soak before bedtime can be a comfortable, relaxing way to make the transition from your busy day to a restful night.
3. Potential For Temporary Pain Relief
Soaking in a hot tub can help improve wellness and quality of life for people suffering from chronic pain. Regardless of the source, chronic pain not only affects physical health but mood and overall well-being. Arthritis, characterized by joint pain and swelling, often results in decreased mobility, but studies have shown that spa therapy can temporarily alleviate pain and stiffness in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Hot tub hydrotherapy can also offer temporary relief for fibromyalgia sufferers. Research demonstrates significant benefits, including reduced pain intensity, fatigue, stiffness, and improvements in mood after hydrotherapy sessions.
4. Better Mood
For a healthy way to enhance your state of mind, look no further than your backyard hot tub. Hot tub owners benefit from a blend of mood-enhancing and physical wellness benefits with every soak. The warm water and massaging jets induce relaxation, triggering the release of endorphins—the body's mood elevators. This natural source of stress relief can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression while promoting a sense of well-being. Good relationships and strong connections with friends and family can also enhance your well-being, so unplug and share a soak with someone you care about. Regular hot tub use can improve sleep quality, reduce stress levels, and enhance overall mood, resulting in a boost to both mental and physical wellness.
5. Improved Muscular Relaxation
The way that hydrotherapy soothes your muscles is not only relaxing, but it also contributes to your overall well-being. The warm water of a hot tub generates hydrostatic pressure, alleviating joint inflammation and helping to improve mobility. The weight of the water and massaging jets go to work to reduce stiffness and restore flexibility, which is particularly beneficial as you age. The buoyancy experienced in a hot tub relieves muscle tension, helping joints and muscles to relax and become more pliable. Relaxed muscles allow blood to flow more freely, promoting better circulation throughout the body. This can help deliver oxygen and nutrients to tissues more efficiently. When your muscles are relaxed, you feel better, sleep better, and recover better.
6. Relief From Post Workout Soreness
Have you ever wondered why you feel sore after a workout? Challenging your muscles through demanding work or exercise causes microscopic tears in your muscle fibers, and as they heal, the rebuilding of tears contributes to building bigger, stronger muscles. A certain level of post-workout muscle pain is perfectly normal, and a hot tub is the perfect way to relieve soreness. Both the heat of the water and the massage from the jets may help with pain relief during the recovery process. Warm water immersion speeds up the recovery process by increasing blood flow, which is why soaking in a hot tub is a popular option among athletes of all levels.
A pre-workout soak can also be beneficial. Before you exercise, try taking a 10-to-20-minute soak in the hot tub. This helps get the blood flowing and loosens up your muscles, which can help reduce the risk of injury.
7. Stronger Connections
A hot tub is the perfect setting for fostering better relationships, whether it's enjoying couple time, hanging out with the kids, or entertaining friends. The comfortable, relaxed environment encourages open communication, free of the devices and distractions of everyday life, allowing couples to connect and unwind together. Families can create cherished memories while soaking in the warm water, promoting togetherness and relaxation. Gathering with friends in a hot tub creates a fun and social atmosphere that everyone can enjoy. Strong relationships are key to a happy, fulfilling life, and a hot tub provides the perfect setting to spend time together.
8. More Vitality
A hot tub doesn't just relax; it also invigorates. The warm water and powerful jets provide a refreshing massage, stimulating circulation and promoting a sense of well-being. Starting the day in your hot tub can awaken your senses, leaving you feeling energized, rejuvenated, and focused.
At the end of a busy day, many hot tub owners turn to hydrotherapy to help them unwind and prepare for a good night’s sleep. Unplugging from your devices and enjoying the outdoors from the comfort of your hot tub helps end the day on a positive note, which fosters mental wellness. Whether you soak first thing in the morning last thing at night, or both, regular hot tub use can become a revitalizing routine, providing a much-needed dose of energy and vitality that helps you unleash your best self every day!
9. Increased Mobility
Hot tub hydrotherapy offers a multifaceted approach to improving mobility. As previously mentioned, the warm water generates hydrostatic pressure, and when coupled with the massaging jets, works to alleviate stiffness, and improve flexibility, which is particularly beneficial as we age. As previously mentioned, the buoyancy experienced in a hot tub could allow joints to move more freely by relieving muscle tension. Regular hot tub sessions serve as a proactive measure to combat stiffness.
Considerations for Safe, Effective Hot Tub Use
Your safety and well-being are of utmost importance. Be sure to take the recommended precautions or consult your doctor, if you have any of these conditions:
- Pregnancy: Consult your healthcare provider before using a hot tub during pregnancy, and if approved for use, consider limiting sessions to 10 minutes at lower temperatures to avoid overheating.
- Children: Never leave a child unsupervised. In particular, always supervise young children closely in hot tubs, keep water temperature under 100 degrees, and limit their time in the water to avoid dehydration.
- Cardiac Problems: Seek medical advice and approval before hot tub use if you have a heart condition. Keep sessions short and avoid overheating to manage heart rate and blood pressure.
- Skin Infections or Injuries: Avoid hot tubs with open wounds or skin infections to prevent potential aggravation and bacterial growth.
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): If prone to UTIs, be cautious when using a hot tub to reduce the risk of worsening symptoms or bacterial contamination.
Get the Most from Every Soak
These guidelines will help you to maximize your hot tub hydrotherapy benefits:
- Limit Your Time: Keep hot tub sessions to 20-30 minutes to prevent overheating and dehydration.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink water before, during, and after your hot tub session to avoid dehydration.
- Shower Afterward: Rinse off in a shower to remove chemicals and avoid skin irritation.
- Avoid Extreme Temperature Changes: Gradually adjust to temperature changes to avoid shocking your system.
- Don't Swallow Water: Keep your head above water to avoid ingesting spa water.
- Don't Drink Alcohol: Limit alcohol to prevent dehydration and fully enjoy the benefits of hydrotherapy.
Find Your Perfect Hot Tub
Now that you’ve explored the benefits of hot tubbing, it’s time to experience the wellness, vitality, and connection for yourself.
With legendary massage, easy water care, and leading energy efficiency, it's no wonder Hot Spring® Spas is the world’s best-selling spa brand. Explore our models to find one that fits your home, budget, and lifestyle, and experience the relaxation, rejuvenation, and connection that comes when you make a Hot Spring spa part of every day!
