Really, we mean that using your spa or hot tub is good for you. There are many benefits of immersion in hot water, beyond the pure pleasure of it, that justify your using your spa.  We are going to do a short series of posts on this topic to give you some of the basic information.  This first post introduces hydrotherapy in general.  Our next ones will give more information about the physiological mechanisms of hot water therapy and about its emotional/psychological benefits.

Hydrotherapy is an Ancient Practice

Water has been used in many cultures across time as a curative or restorative agent, which we generally call ‘hydrotherapy’ (see the Wikipedia article).  Most of you will remember the Roman baths, and it seems that every state in the Union has a town called “Hot Springs” where people visited to experience the “healing waters.”  These traditional spas were abused by an assortment of quacks who made outrageous claims for them, but there is a core of truth in the value of water for therapy.

While the term “hydrotherapy” includes a host of practices, using both cold and hot water, we are focused on hot water immersion, and to some extent on the effect of jets, as a therapeutic method.

Climbing into your spa can be therapeutic primarily through its effects on your circulation system and due to the buoyancy you experience in water. For most people, the spa helps dilate blood vessels to improve flow into muscle and connective tissue, lowers blood pressure (with a higher heartbeat), and confers a sense of well-being.  These feelings of relaxation exist whether we get any actual therapy or not, and for many of us easily justify the use of the spa.

However, for some people with particular conditions, the spa might actually be a beneficial treatment.  Some forms of arthritis respond well to heat, and some of the ordinary aches and pains of life can be temporarily treated with hot water.  It is common for spa users to report that a soak before going to bed makes it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Check with Your Physician

Just one caveat, as always:  you should ask your own physician if using the spa might be beneficial in treating any specific condition you might have, or if hot water might be detrimental for some reason.  For example, it is usually unwise for a pregnant woman to immerse herself in water above a certain temperature, so getting her physician’s advice is wise.

You Need Clean Water

It goes without saying that you need clean water to get the benefits of hydrotherapy without the unwanted effects of contaminants.  The more you use your spa for its benefits, the more important it is to make sure it is sanitary.  Your DEL Ozone spa ozone generator is your best tool for maintaining clean, clear spa water.

With the clean water issue taken care of, enjoy that spa and its many benefits!