Hot tubs are the only combination of bubbly and warm that works.
Formerly a symbol of class and luxury, they are now available in many shapes & sizes and intended for various purposes. Indeed, whether oval, square, round or rectangular hot tubs spas can heal and calm more than just your nerves.
What is Hydrotherapy?
The therapeutic properties of water have been known since the dawn of civilization. Now, recognised by both respected medical associations and traditional medicine, hydrotherapy is defined as physiotherapy which uses the properties of water to achieve specific, therapeutic goals. As only plain tap water is used, only the physical properties of water (temperature, hydrostatic pressure, hydrodynamics, viscosity, electric conductivity) are responsible for the beneficial effects.
Hydrotherapy is generally safe if done properly. Different people may respond differently to the length and intensity of treatment and some may experience certain side effects like headaches, nausea and lightheadedness.
Importantly, your doctor must be completely informed of your physical condition and medical history before trying hydrotherapy.
How Can I do Hydrotherapy at Home?
Your bathtub and showerhead can do wonders besides keeping you squeaky clean. You could try immersion in hot water, cold water or contrast bathing.
Temperature ranges between 37C° and 38C° are soothing and calming to both the mind and body while raising the temperature by just a couple of degrees (between 39C° and 40C°) has a deeply relaxing and sedative effect. Don’t indulge for too long as it can cause exhaustion. Immersion in hot water shouldn’t exceed 15 minutes (5 minutes for higher temperatures).
Temperatures lower than body temperature (34C° to 36C°) tighten and cool the body. Immersion in cool water should be done in short bursts of 1 to 2 minutes. A drop of only a few degrees can calm a racing pulse, reduce redness or refresh tired, swollen feet. At this time, you would feel energised and robust.
If you’re looking for a revitalising experience, you should try contrast bathing. The idea is to go back and forth between a cool shower and a warm bath for at least 20 minutes. The duration of each stage depends on the temperatures you choose. The cold water should be between and the hot container should be between. The immersion in hot water should last from 1 to 3 minutes while the cold shower should last 1 minute.
Besides influencing your heart rate, rapid alternating between hot-water and cold-water immersions, your blood vessels open and close in a pulsing, pump-like motion. Some think that this pumping action can help relieve various injury symptoms, have a flushing effect on your circulation and the toxins it contains.
For the warm bubble enthusiasts in need, your very own hot tub can be a practical investment. Depending on your needs, space, style and budget you can choose anything from hydro-massage oval spas to large plunge rectangular hot tubs spas to blow your troubles away as you’re enjoying the bubbles.
How Does Hydrotherapy Help?
Improves Musculoskeletal Pain
Hydrotherapy can benefit anyone from a highly skilled athlete with sore muscles to an elderly with lower back pain and aching joints. It’s often recommended by doctors for those suffering from sports injuries. Cold water immersions serve as “ice” packs, decreasing skin, muscle and core temperature. This reduces inflammation and subsequently pain.
The hot water in hydrotherapy supports the body, improves stability, provides resistance for strength training, promotes circulation, helps muscle relaxation. Additionally, the jets of a spa can also be used as a massage tool.
Moreover, studies have shown that osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis had improved markers of disease, pain and knee function after engaging in aquatic exercise. The low impact makes these activities perfect as they don’t put too much stress on the joints, exacerbating the condition.
Reduces Diabetic Complications
Since proving the metabolic and cardiovascular benefits of hydrotherapy, it’s become an increasingly regular therapeutical practice around the world.
Nitric oxide, HSP 70 and HSP72 (heat shock protein 70 and 72) are considered to be the main contributors to improving insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). These molecules initiate cellular pathways that reduce inflammation and boost vascular health. Moreover, heat therapy has shown a striking reduction in the glycated hemoglobin levels in type 2 DM.
In rats, bathing for 15 min in hot plain water (40–42 ◦C) increased Hsp72 (heat shock protein 72) in heart tissue and arteries, contributing to cardioprotection against ischemia injury and suppresion of the thickening in injured arteries. Furthermore, diabetic rats undergoing hydrotherapy at 42 ◦C (60 sessions of 30 min each) had an improved lipid profile, antioxidant capacity and insulin secretion.
It should be noted that hydrotherapy at 38–41 ◦C (18 sessions of 30 min) reduced body weight, fasting plasma glucose levels and mean glycated hemoglobin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
To conclude, the byproducts of heat stress and improve insulin signalling, body composition, endothelial dysfunction and the low-grade inflammation found in people with diabetes. The safety and efficacy of hydrotherapy make it adequate for patients with metabolic syndrome that are incapable of performing even moderate physical activities.
The diabetic foot is the most common diabetes-related cause of hospitalisation and amputations. Thorough care is necessary for the prevention and early detection of sores and ulcers. Always check your feet before entering your hot bath and dry your feet gently and meticulously. You shouldn’t perform hydrotherapy if you have ulcers as the risk of complications like infections is high.
Helps Heart Failure Patients
Historically, the recommendations for hydrotherapy and aquatic exercise for people with cardiac disease were to proceed with caution. The decreased heart rate allows more blood to return to the heart (cardiac preload). It was assumed that it would compromise cardiac function in those with pre-existing diseases.
This was especially concerning for those with chronic heart failure. However, studies have demonstrated aquatic exercise to be well tolerated in particular patients. The hypothesis is that the reduction in afterload (the resistance that the heart needs to overcome when it pumps) that occurs with dilatation of the peripheral vessels likely compensates and counteracts the potentially harmful effects of increased preload.
Head Over Water (HOV) immersion in thermo-neutral water (34-35 degrees) decreases peripheral vascular resistance, heart rate and diastolic blood pressure while increasing cardiac output, stroke volume and ejection fraction.
Permanent pacemakers (PPM) and implantable defibrillators (AICD) PPMs and AICDs do not exclude you from hydrotherapy. However, the specific reason for the insertion of the device is very important and should bee discussed with a medical specialist. Avoid hydrotherapy following device insertion until the wound site is fully healed.
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