Backyard Blogging.

The Summer Olympics inspire many of us to get in shape. But what do we do with our sore muscles and aching backs?

Hydrotherapy is good for Olympians, so it’s good for you, too!

Elite athletes often use the benefits of hot tub hydrotherapy as part of their training and recovery process. Active adults like you can get the same benefits from hot tub hydrotherapy right at home!

Hydrotherapy for Olympians

Runners, swimmers, gymnasts, divers, track & field athletes, and many other Olympians take advantage of the healing benefits of hot water therapy and use it as part of their training and recovery process.

But, it’s not only elite athletes who are pushing the limits of physical stress on their bodies that benefit from hot tub hydrotherapy.

Active adults, just like you, can get the same benefits right in the comfort of your own backyard.

Help for Sore Muscles

Why do Olympians use hot tub hydrotherapy?

They want to soothe sore, aching muscles while decreasing joint pain and improving circulation.

They also want to accelerate the body’s natural healing process through hydrotherapy. Hot water massage has a long history of use as a technique for promoting muscle recovery.

Now, let’s look at another benefit of hydrotherapy – it’s good for your heart, too.

Warm Water Immersion

Heart rate and blood pressure typically drop when you are sitting in warm water while your peripheral circulation increases and your cardiovascular system’s efficiency improves.

Several studies show the benefits of simple warm-water immersion and aquatic exercise. They show that cardiac function may improve because the heart doesn’t have to exert as much force to circulate blood throughout the body.

Benefits exist in both simple immersion and aquatic exercises performed in a warm-water environment.

Why the Benefit?

The heart doesn’t have to expend as much energy to move blood in your body due to the reduced vascular resistance.

You also have a slower heart rate when soaking in warm water. This is why cardiac function improves.

In some studies, a benefit was seen with three days per week of warm water exercise.

Some studies recommend limiting hot tub sessions to ten minutes and encouraging soakers to stay hydrated before, during, and after.

Final Thoughts on Hydrotherapy

The Summer Olympics have been going on for several weeks, and many of us are inspired to work out harder and just take better care of ourselves.

Introducing a hot tub into your backyard is one step to feeling better, relaxing, and relieving stress.

While there are many benefits of hot tub soaking and exercising in warm water, we recommend you seek professional advice if you have heart issues. Please consult your doctor before using a hot tub/spa if you have heart failure. Make sure to check with your physician before beginning any exercise regimen. (This article does not constitute a doctor’s advice.)

Hot water and massage have a long history of promoting muscle recovery; stop by one of our locations to learn how you can bring home the benefits of hydrotherapy.