4 Hot Tub Health Benefits for Athletes [& Everyone Else]

As wonderful as it feels to hop in a steaming hot tub in winter, warming up your body inside and out isn’t the only hot tub benefit you will reap. There are actually enough hot tub health benefits to make hydrotherapy a part of your daily routine...no matter the season.

1. Muscle and Joint Pain Relief

Unlimited relief from an achy back and neck? Check. Joint pain therapy whenever you need it? Yes.

If you are dealing with the consequences of an overzealous workout, suffering from arthritis, or are just living with the natural pains that come along with getting older, hydrotherapy could be your answer.

Hot tubs are especially useful when they boast strategically placed jet massage packs that target the back, neck, shoulder, and leg muscles. Whether you’re in the mood for a kneading massage to loosen up your legs, a deep tissue massage that relaxes your lower back, a medium-intensity massage that alleviates built-up tension in your neck, or quick pulsations all over that help you achieve a meditative state, sore muscles and joints just don’t stand a chance after a good soak in the hot tub.

2. A Better Night’s Sleep

Just about anyone can attest that stress and anxiety have a tendency to keep them up at night. Between work, family, social life, and the news, there are always plenty of problems bouncing around in the brain to keep sleep at bay.

Since sleep is intrinsically linked to health, it is very important to get as much high-quality sleep as possible. Harvard lists the dramatic health consequences of reduced sleep:

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease and hypertension
• Negative effects on the immune system
• Much more likely to get the common cold

Insufficient sleep increases healthcare costs, decreases productivity, negatively affects day-to-day wellbeing, and ultimately lowers life expectancy.  

The University of Minnesota Hospital found that soaking in a hot tub for just 10 minutes can give you increased feelings of well-being and decreased anxiety. These positive feelings, coupled with the innate muscle and joint relaxation that comes from a good hot water soak, go a long way to helping you fall asleep fast and stay asleep all night long.

3. A Drop in Heart Rate and Blood Pressure

If your doctor wants you to take measures to lower your blood pressure, giving your heart a rest with warm-water immersion is beneficial to cardiovascular health.

A hot tub benefits the heart by causing a shift in blood volume, moving it from the body’s extremities into the chest. This shift pumps more blood in the heart, improving its function. In addition, immersion in a hot tub benefits the circulatory system by decreasing resistance through the arteries and veins. Combined, the heart will feel less stress and the heart rate will lower (and so will your blood pressure).

4. An Aid for Weight Loss

While there is no quick fix for losing extra pounds, working out and eating healthy foods will go a long way. Add in some time in a hot tub to support your weight loss goals and you may just find yourself reaching the desired number on your scale even faster.

Here’s why:

• You will enjoy lower stress levels which helps keep you on track and motivated.
• When joints and muscles are relaxed after a workout, you’ll have a quicker recovery and less soreness later on, making it possible to exercise again sooner.
• There is evidence that soaking in hot water can improve metabolism along with blood sugar and insulin levels.

In addition, working out while in your hot tub is a great way to achieve weight loss. Doing low-impact, water-resistance exercises is a powerful way to continue on the path of healthy living.
So, whether you want to look at cold weather hot tubs solely for the bodily warmth or so you can enjoy all of these other amazing hot tub benefits, check out Bullfrog Spas today.