The Hydromassage Experience
There are three factors at work in a spa: heat, buoyancy and
massage. Together, they create a relaxing, soothing experience.
Immersion in hot water raises the body temperature and causes the blood vessels to dilate, increasing circulation. The buoyancy of the water reduces body weight by approximately 90%, which relieves pressure on joints and muscles and creates the relaxing sensation of weightlessness.
Download our brochure about health benefits of hydromassage (PDF format - 3.7MB).
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 loosens tight muscles and stimulates the release of endorphins, the body's natural pain killers.
Of course, a spa offers much more than just a good hydromassage. It can also be good for your health. "Research shows that both the body and mind benefit from the simple act of immersion in warm water." The Hot Water & Healthy Living book summarizes the presentknowledge about the many health benefits that result from immersion in water.
Hydromassage & Health - The Natural Healing Benefits of Hydrotherapy
The health benefits of hydromassage (soaking in warm water) have been known and appreciated for thousands of years. Early civilization built magnificent bath houses because they believed the warm waters promoted more than just relaxation - it cured a number of ills.
Medical professionals around the globe use the natural hydrotherapy of warm water soaking to:
- Ease anxiety and stress
- Sleep better and relieve insomnia
- Pain relief from arthritis and fibromyalgia
- Increase healing from injury and surgery
Hydromassage: The Anti-Stress Prescription
After a strenuous day, we all know how much better we feel when we ease into a warm bath or hot tub. The warmth just seems to take it all away, naturally. Now there is science to support this effect of hydromassage. According to the book Hot Water & Healthy Living by J. B. Smith, Ed.D, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the parasympathetic branch of our body's system increases hormones that cause the body to relax after stress has passed. There is evidence that shows that warm water immersion seems to reduce the hormones that have been associated with stress.
Taking time to relax in warm water may also, according to Jack Raglin, Ph.D., Indiana University, Indiana, separate us from the sources of stress which can lead to a decrease in anxiety. Many people report an energizing effect that can last about four hours. And, in his latest research reported at the fifth World Aquatic Health Conference (WAHC), October 2008, Bruce Becker, M.D., Washington State University, states "We found that, with 25 minutes of soaking in a 102F degree hot tub, the autonomic nervous system alters during warm water immersion, producing changes that are parallel to those seen during relaxation and accompanying a reduction in anxiety." Dr. Becker suggests that with the relaxation, warm water immersion may well have a positive effect on working memory and performance of cognitive tasks, including problem solving.
Remedy for a Good Night's Restful Sleep
Relaxing in a hot tub can help ease your body into a deeper sleep. According to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation, approximately 132 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders more than one night a week. This number is on the rise. Sleep researchers believe that many cases of insomnia can be traced to hectic, stressful lifestyles lived by basically healthy people. Studies suggest that immersion in warm water (such as in a hot tub which has a constant temperature) before bedtime can ease the transition into a deeper, more restful sleep. This may be due to 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.
One study by E. J. Sung and Y. Tochihara in 2000 (referenced in Hot Water & Healthy Living) looked at the positive benefits of warm hydromassage in the evening, during winter time, to fall asleep more easily. The sleep improvement may also be related to hot water's relaxing properties-the buoyancy of water reduces body weight by approximately 90%-relieving pressure on joints and muscles, creating the sensation of weightlessness. The hot, swirling water of a hot tub's hydromassage leaves you feeling both mentally and emotionally relaxed.
Healing Effects of Hydrotherapy
Improved circulation promotes healing. Hydrotherapy in warm water increases circulation. Thus, the blood supply to muscles increases, and more blood flow means there are more nutrients available to help cells and tissues regenerate, and speed up healing. The immersion effects on healing are aided by the buoyancy of water which reduces weight bearing on joints due to gravity. For this reason, we feel lighter in water. The water is thicker than air and provides resistance to movement. When we exercise or move in water, we are moving against the water, also called graded resistance.
This is helpful in promoting healing. The hydromassage jet action found in spas seems to also promote healing by providing a gentle massage action to the affected area. According to the textbook, Comprehensive Aquatic Therapy by Drs. Bruce Becker and Andrew Cole, "immersion in warm water can lead to a faster and longer-lasting recovery. An environment which is less prone to cause pain, and is even pleasurable makes immersion in warm water a unique healing environment."
Approximately 43 million people in the United States suffer from some form of arthritis pain. The good news for those affected is that there are safe and effective ways to both minimize the discomfort and 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. Exercise can also improve a person's coordination, endurance, and the ability to perform daily tasks, and can lead to an enhanced sense of self-esteem and accomplishment."
Whether you have arthritis, fibromyalgia, knee, hip or other joint pain and stiffness, or you have a sports related injury or strain, or just over did it on the tennis court or out on your run, hydrotherapy is a long recommended and accepted form of natural treatment.
Healthy Heart the Natural Way
Research led by Dr. Thomas G. Allison of the Mayo Clinic discussed in an article titled "Mayo Clinic OK's Spas for Heart Patients" indicates that hot tubs and spas may not present as much of a risk to heart patients as previously thought. The report stated that relaxing in a spa might actually be less stressful to your heart than working out on an exercise bicycle. Soaking in a hot tub increases the heart rate while lowering blood pressure, instead of raising it as other forms of exercise do.
There is fresh research reported at the 2008 WAHC from Drs. Becker and Hildenbrand, National Aquatics and Sports Medicine Institute of Washington State University. Their 2007 and 2008 research studied the effects of immersion temperatures upon the autonomic nervous system, the circulatory system and the cardiovascular systems looking at younger and older adults. Dr. Becker stated, "the effects of aquatic immersion are profound, and impact virtually every body system. Warm water immersion, from bathing to hot tub use, protects the heart from rhythm disturbances and improves the efficiency of the heart muscle." He went on to explain "Our research has shown a positive effect upon the regulatory mechanisms that control heart rate, blood pressure and circulation in both young and older subjects. The results of this recent research add improved understanding of the physiology behind previous research demonstrating improved heart function in individuals with mild to moderate heart failure, and damage from ischemic heart disease." Dr. Becker concluded: "There may indeed be magic in the water."
Additionally, Dr. Becker has indicated that "simply immersing in warm water to chest depth changes cardiac function in some of the ways that mimic aerobic exercise". He continues to study the phenomena, because it may have implications in treatment of diseases including diabetes and cardiac rehabilitation and attention deficit disorder.
Hydrotherapy, like regular exercise, can be the source of many documented health benefits, including the natural pain relief of arthritis, stiff joints and poor circulation, muscle relief after a hard workout, stress relief and improved sleep. The penetrating action of the hydromassage jets, coupled with the warm water, can provide a relaxing massage to all your muscle groups and joints, a restful night's sleep and a reinvigorated spirit.
Of course, as with any health regimen, you should consult with your doctor to determine if hydromassage is right for you.
Hydromassage Article Resources:
Hot Water & Healthy Living, J.B. Smith, www.hotwaterbook.org
National Sleep Foundation
The Sleep Medicine Homepage
The Sleep Well
Comprehensive Aquatic Therapy, Drs. Bruce Becker & Andrew Cole
World Aquatic Health Conference 2007 & 2008 Seminars, Drs. Becker, Raglin. www.nspf.org
National Aquatics and Sports Medicine Institute (NASMI), Washington State University