Health Benefits
There are three factors at work in a spa: heat, buoyancy and massage. Together they create an experience that is both relaxing and healing. Immersion in warm water raises the body temperature and causes the blood vessels to dilate, resulting in increased circulation. The buoyancy of the water reduces body weight by approximately 90%, relieving pressure on joints and muscles also creating the relaxing sensation of weightlessness. ssw-health-benefits-soothing-hydrotherapy-img The massaging action of a spa is created by sending a mixture of warm water and air through jet nozzles. This “energized” stream of water relaxes tight muscles and stimulates the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain-killers.
If you’ve ever felt stiff, sore or tense, you’ll truly appreciate hydrotherapy. Many arthritis sufferers find that a soak in the morning provides day-long relief. Anyone who engages in strenuous sports, hard physical labor, or just spends the day on their feet will also experience amazing relief in a spa.
Of course a spa is more than just good hydrotherapy. It’s also good fun. So it’s something you’ll want to experience every day. And once you own a spa, you’ll probably find yourself echoing what so many of our customers tell us: “I don’t know how I got along without it.”
Dipping your body into water of any temperature makes you feel weightless and, because of a change in hydrostatic pressure, can help dull any pain you may be feeling.
But what separates soaking in a hot spa from treading water in a pool – or even soaking in a warm bath – is the fact that the warm temperature is sustained. Medical experts say that, over time, this brings about changes in your circulatory system that affect other aspects of your body’s operations.
Your body’s first reaction to being immersed in warmer water is to try to get back to its normal temperature by pumping the heart a little faster to bring blood to the surface and, normally, disperse extra body heat into the air. This causes a temporary and mild increase in blood pressure.
But because spa water is maintained at a high temperature – and because water is one of the most effective conductors of heat – the blood being carried to the body’s surface is warmed, rather than cooled. The longer the soaker remains in the spa, the more times the blood cycles through the body – and the deeper into the body the warm temperature is carried. Studies have shown that immersion in a spa maintained at 40 degrees can raise the core body temperature to 37 degrees Celsius in less than 20 minutes.
After a few minutes, the warm blood causes the blood vessels to dilate, lessening the resistance to blood flow and dropping the blood pressure. As the body goes through this process, several benefits are enjoyed – most of which are enhanced further by the jet action:
This occurs when the warm blood reaches deeper and deeper into the muscles, causing the vessels to expand. The muscle-relaxation effects of hot water also help deaden muscle pain by easing any pinching of nerves or blood vessels, and by helping the muscle rid itself of lactic acid and other metabolic wastes.
As the body tries to register a temperature change, the central nervous system becomes depressed, contributing to muscle relaxation and temporarily relieving, or at least lessening, pain. This can happen with any drastic change in temperature – hot or cold – but most people are more comfortable sitting in warm water than holding an ice pack. (Remember, for recent injuries where there is swelling or broken skin, an ice pack is more suitable.)
In trying to regain its normal temperature, the body will begin sweating so that moisture on the skin will evaporate and cool the body. But this process also helps rid the body of toxins.
The jet action found in spas can help to promote healing by providing even more oxygen to the area than is provided by warm water alone. The heat and pressure from the jets can also raise the level of antibodies and white blood cells delivered to the area, encouraging the destruction of bad cells and stimulating the formation of new tissue.
You can, of course, get too much of a good thing. Soaking in a spa raises your core temperature without discomfort. This isn’t healthy for more than a brief period – and for some people it’s not OK at all. The hot-water industry recommends that you soak no longer than 15 minutes at a time, refrain from performing rigorous exercise in hot water, and, if you have a medical condition, consult your doctor before taking a dip.
Millions of people suffer needlessly. For many years Europeans have used spa therapy (soaking in hot baths of mineral water) as an alternative treatment for various chronic diseases. And there’s always been anecdotal evidence that the hot water and jets of a spa relieve back pain. Yet, the effectiveness of such therapy for chronic low back pain has not been well documented.
In 1995, a study published in the British Journal of Rheumatology offered evidence that hot tub therapy has both short- and long-term benefits for people with lower back pain.
A later study, published in the Journal of Rheumatology by a group of researchers in France, sought to conform these results and quantify the overall benefits of spa therapy.
After three weeks of consistent spa therapy, examinations showed more improvement in the health status (as measured in pain duration and intensity and back flexibility) of the spa treatment group than of the medication-only group.
After six months, significant improvement continued in the spa therapy group. In addition, their use of analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs had decreased.
The preceding research information was featured in the March-April 1996 issue of Arthritis Today, compiled and edited by Mary Anne Dunkin.
An evaluation of the sleep habits of Australians demonstrates that disrupted sleep, inadequate sleep duration, daytime fatigue, excessive sleepiness and irritability are highly prevalent (20%–35%). While about half of these problems are attributable to specific sleep disorders, the balance appears largely due to poor sleep habits or choices to limit sleep opportunity. Medical Journal of Australia – 2013
Sleep researchers believe that many cases of poor sleep and insomnia can be traced to hectic, stressful lifestyles lived by basically healthy people. The flow-on effects of sleep deprivation can include increased stress, grogginess, lapses in focus and memory, depression, even erratic mood swings. There’s also a great deal of research that points to sleep deprivation as a contributor to strokes, coronary disease, motor vehicle and work place accidents.
It’s a very real problem that can be addressed with a healthy, well-being enhancing solution – simply relaxing in a spa before bedtime.
Studies suggest that immersion in hot water that has a constant temperature, before bedtime can ease the transition into a deeper, more restful sleep.
This occurs for two key reasons. First there is a temperature shift, since the body’s core internal thermostat drops after leaving the water, which signals the body that it’s time to sleep.
Second, the sleep improvement is the result of the hot water’s relaxing properties – the buoyancy of the water reducing body weight by approximately 90%, relieving pressure on joints and muscles, creating the sensation of weightlessness. Plus the hot, swirling water leaves you feeling both mentally and emotionally relaxed.
In addition, spa-induced sleep is a natural remedy, unlike alternative sleeping aids such as prescription drugs, over-the-counter remedies and alcohol – all of which can make you feel groggy and have other adverse side effects.
- 280 Australians develop diabetes every day. That’s one person every five minutes
- Around 1.7 million Australians have diabetes.
A variety of different medical studies have looked into the potential of spa therapy and its benefits for sufferers of diabetes.
As an example Health Grades Magazine reports:
“Taking a soak in a spa can release tension from your muscles—and your mind. Some evidence even suggests it can help control your diabetes. As the hot water boosts your core temperature, your body activates its natural cooling mechanisms. Blood vessels near your skin dilate to release some of the extra heat you’ve absorbed. This increase in blood flow has beneficial effects, especially if you can’t exercise. More nutrient-rich blood reaches your muscles as a result. In some studies, regular hot tub visits actually reduced blood glucose levels in people with diabetes.”
Tight control of blood glucose (sugar) levels is the only defense against the many problems and side effects that come from diabetes.
An independent study led by Dr. Philip L. Hooper at the McKee Medical Center in Loveland, Colorado studied a group of Type 2 diabetes patients for three weeks. The patients were required to soak in a hot tub for thirty minutes a day, six days a week, for the duration of the study. The results were astounding! The patients’ average blood sugar levels were reduced by an average of 13 percent. Hooper also explained that one of the subjects was able to reduce his daily dose of insulin by 18 percent after only ten days of the study.
In reference to these findings, Dr. Hooper states that hot tubs are especially helpful for patients who are unable to exercise, and recommends that hot tub treatments should be included as regular therapy for patients with diabetes.
This stems from the fact that soaking in a spa simulates exercise. The hydrotherapy dilates the blood vessels, promoting better circulation as it relaxes the skin and muscles. It also raises the heart rate, while lowering blood pressure.
Studies have shown that just 30 minutes a day in the hot tub can help you lose weight. No other exercise, no outside routines—just a 30-minute soak six days a week. A spa’s moving water stimulates your muscles; this slow stimulation causes you to gradually lose weight.
In fact the New England Journal of Medicine followed a group of subjects who were required to soak in a hot tub for thirty minutes a day, six days a week, for three weeks.
Though this study was for diabetes research, the results were wide-reaching. The patients’ weight was reduced by an average of 1.7kg! The subjects lost around half a kilogram per week, just by soaking in a spa.
Regular use of hot tubs can also help to diminish the appearance of cellulite. The fatty deposits that typically gather on the hips, thighs and buttocks of most women past their 30s can never be fully eliminated. The design of a woman’s body naturally causes the skin to dimple out, whether she is carrying weight or thin. However, by improving circulation to the areas affected by cellulite, it has been shown that the appearance of the unsightly deposits can be reduced.
According to a variety of medical sources available on the Internet, the hydrotherapy that a spa provides stimulates the blood vessels, increasing circulation. It also tones the body tissue, helps to reduce fluid retention. All of these benefits combined can result in the diminishment of the appearance of cellulite.
The research, led by Dr. Thomas G. Allison of the world-renowned medical center, examined the body temperature and cardiovascular stress experienced by 15 patients at risk for heart disease both in hot water and on bicycles.
The studies showed that cycling exercise caused blood pressure to rise from an average of 121/73 to 170/84. By contrast, sitting in a spa made the blood pressure drop from an average of 117/77 to 106/61. The article also states that spa use will raise heart rates 25.7 beats per minute.
A spa increases the heart rate while lowering blood pressure, instead of raising it as other forms of exercise do.
Approximately one in five Australians suffer from some form of arthritis pain. The good news is that there are safe and effective ways to both minimize the discomfort and help prevent further damage. According to a publication from The Arthritis Foundation, Spas, Pools, and Arthritis – “Regular sessions in your hot tub help keep joints moving.
It restores and preserves strength and flexibility, and also protects your joints from further damage.”
“A hot tub fulfills the need perfectly . . . providing the warmth, massage, and buoyancy that is so necessary to the well-being of arthritis sufferers. The buoyancy of the water supports and lessens stress on the joints and encourages freer movement. Water exercises may even act as resistance to help build muscle strength.”
Research from the Arthritis Foundation has shown warm water therapy works wonders for all kinds of musculoskeletal conditions, including fibromyalgia, arthritis and lower back pain.
“It makes you feel better. It makes the joints looser. It reduces pain and it seems to have a somewhat prolonged effect that goes beyond the period of immersion,” says Bruce E. Becker, MD, director of the National Aquatics & Sports Medicine Institute at Washington State University in Spokane.
There are many reasons soaking in warm water works. It reduces the force of gravity that’s compressing the joint, offers 360-degree support for sore limbs, can decrease swelling and inflammation and increase circulation.
So, how long should you soak? Dr. Becker says patients he’s studied seem to reach a maximum benefit after about 20 minutes. And make sure you drink water before and afterward to stay well hydrated.”
Neck and back pain, sports injuries, muscle pulls, cramps and soreness are often eased simply by a quick dip in your spa.
Water’s therapeutic powers lie in its ability to alter the body’s blood flow.
According to an article in Tennis Magazine, “When you immerse yourself in the hot water of a whirlpool, the temperature of your skin and muscles rise, causing blood vessels to dilate and thus increases blood flow to the skin and muscles. Turn on the whirlpool jets and the pulsating water massages the skin, increasing blood flow even more. The result? Your skin and muscles loosen and relax from the increased blood circulation.”
You can improve your athletic performance by using your hot tub both before and after you exercise.
- Help alleviate the symptoms of muscle strains, sprains, and other injuries
- Increase blood flow and circulation
- Sooth back pain
- Ease the symptoms of arthritis
- Help restore a better range of motion
- Bring the body into a more calm state
We all have stress in our daily lives from work, family and lifestyle. Depression, tension, frustration and insecurity are amongst the most damaging types of stress. Affected by stress, the heart works harder, breathing becomes more rapid and shallow, and digestion slows. Nearly every process of the body is degraded. Researchers have estimated that a huge proportion of diseases and physical issues are either stress-related or further aggravated by stress. Since we usually can’t avoid it, the key to dealing with stress is relieving it!
A soothing and relaxing soak in your spa on a regular basis can help counteract stress and its effects on the human body. It is the perfect antidote to a hectic and stressful lifestyle. The warm waters and soothing massage work to relieve anxiety and relax your tense muscles.
Numerous independent studies have proven that a warm water massage stimulates the release of endorphins, the body’s natural “feel good” chemical. Your Splashes Spa will enhance your sense of well being, and leave you feeling revived, rejuvenated, strengthened and ready to tackle life’s daily challenges.
After six months, significant improvement continued in the spa therapy group. In addition, their use of analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs had decreased.
The preceding research information was featured in the March-April 1996 issue of Arthritis Today, compiled and edited by Mary Anne Dunkin.
If you suffer from heart disease, diabetes, high/low blood pressure, or other medical conditions including pregnancy, make sure you have your doctor’s okay before you go in the spa.
Congratulations! However, pregnant women should consult their physicians before spa use. It is important to note that the critical point in fetal development occurs in the first three months of pregnancy. Women of childbearing years are advised to observe caution in their use of a spa, in that they might be in the very earliest stages of pregnancy and not yet know it. Limit soaking to ten minutes at a time & reduce spa temperature as advised by your doctor.
Mona Vale
Unit 5/4 Polo Ave, Mona Vale NSW 2103 (Online Warehouse Location Only)
Email Logistics@splashes.com.au
