ARTHRITIS & HOT WATER THERAPY
Langley, British Columbia
NSPI Consumer Guide - 2003 Coast Spas & Arthritis Research
Warm water combined with the therapeutic massage action of hydro massage jets, has made hot tub bathing one of the most popular ways for arthritis sufferers to alleviate chronic pain and stiffness.
By just spending 10 to 15 minutes per day in water temperatures between 36c – 40c (98 – 104F) you can significantly improve your body’s coordination and flexibility – giving you anew lease on life.
In fact, many doctors strongly recommend hydro-therapy (soaking in warm water) as part of a comprehensive approach to alleviating chronic arthritis pain, which may also include physiotherapy and hypnosis (for increasing pain tolerance), and pharmacological (drug) treatment.
A hot tub provides you with an excellent place to exercise sore arms and legs. Unlike land-based exercises – which force your muscles and joints to fight against gravity when they are moved – exercising in the warm water of a hot tub is much easier because your body becomes virtually weightless, requiring less energy and strength to move and stretch limbs.
The near- weightlessness of the aquatic environment also makes it easier for your heart to pump blood throughout your body, while the warm temperature of the water helps your heart by dilating or enlarging blood flow to your extremities.
The hot tub’s hydro massage jets are also an excellent way to reduce pain in targeted areas of your body. Jets in the footwell, for example, alleviate pain in your ankles and feet, while swirling jets installed in the back of a hot tub’s lounger soothe tense muscles in your back and neck area.
If you have a problem with morning stiffness, a relaxing soak before you head out the door is an enjoyable and effective way to loosen up any tight muscles. If your arthritis pain is worse at night – waking you every time you change position – have a soak before bedtime. Nothing works better in relieving pain and stiffness than the warm water and soothing hydro massage action of a hot tub.
Don Elkington, President & CEO of Coast Spas Manufacturing Inc. continues to serve on the Board of Directors for the Arthritis Research Center of Canada.
