hot water therapy

3 Surprising Health Advantages of Soaking in a Hot Tub

Even the shortest of soaks in the soothing warm waters of a hot tub might seem like an indulgence. 

But 20 minutes can do more than help you escape the routine of daily life. From improving your mood to relieving muscle pain, from lowering blood sugar to helping you sleep, the benefits of hot water therapy are many.   

So grab a towel and calming beverage and discover how you can better your health one soak in a Master Spas hot tub at a time.

Benefits of Hot Water Therapy

  • Reduced stress
  • Pain relief 
  • Improved circulation
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Endorphin production

Hot Water Therapy for Stress Relief

We don’t have to tell you that Americans (or you) are feeling stressed but the numbers might give you pause. A 2017 Gallup News Poll reports nearly 80 percent of people shared feeling stressed during the day. And, according to the American Psychological Association, stress can affect every part of the body – causing changes in your heart and breathing rates, muscles to tense up and the release of stress hormones. 

British psychologist Neil Morris reports in a study, “I found that bathing improved general psychological wellness radically. There was a significant drop in feelings of pessimism about the future and increases in hedonic tone, the internal feeling of pleasurability.”

Why? The hot water, like that in a Master Spas tub, opens the blood vessels, increases blood flow and stimulates the nervous system, causing the body to release endorphins — the feel-good hormone. 

So taking 20 minutes at the end of the day to relax in your hot tub from Master Spas really does make you feel better. 

reduce stress warm water
The warm water of a hot tub, along with massaging jets, can help ease muscle aches, pain and soreness.

Hot Water Therapy for Muscle Pain

It can be a pain in your neck, the result of hours spent over a keyboard, or soreness in your legs from an intense workout. Or the muscle pain can be chronic, the result of a condition like fibromyalgia.  

But whatever the cause, the discomfort isn’t just a pain — it can keep you from living your best life.  

According to Medical News Today, heat treatment assists with loosening up stiff muscles and relieving pain or spasms relating to neck or back injury.

For those who have been enjoying a Master Spas swim spa, a good soak can help with exercise-related soreness (also known as DOMS).

Taking the time to soak in a hot tub can dilate blood vessels and promote blood flow, allowing the muscles to relax. 

But it’s also the change in temperature that stimulates a response in the body. Imagine sitting in a Master Spas hot tub. The water’s perfect — you’ve set the temperature at a soothing 104 degrees. But after 20 minutes, you are ready to get out. You almost hesitantly stand up. You know what happens next. 

The chill. 

Your body temperature drops just slightly, a degree or two, but it’s enough to cause a change. A positive one, as far as your muscles are concerned. You’ll feel more relaxed and, bonus, sleep better, too.

Hot Water Therapy for Chronic Conditions

About six out of 10 American adults are living with a chronic condition — including diabetes and arthritis. 

And while a session in a Master Spas hot tub is not a substitute for medical attention, it can be a complement to traditional treatments. 

Diabetes: Studies, including several published in the New England Journal of Medicine, have reported that hydrotherapy helped people with Type 2 diabetes, sometimes even reducing insulin donations. 

In the studies, it was shown that people had an easier time controlling plasma sugar levels when they soaked in hot water for 30 minutes, six days a week. 

Arthritis: “It reduces pain and it seems to have a somewhat prolonged effect that goes beyond the period of immersion,” says Bruce E. Becker, MD, director of the National Aquatics & Sports Medicine Institute at Washington State University in Spokane. 

Learn more about how arthritis sufferers can benefit from exercising in a swim spa by Master Spas. Click here!

Soaking in a hot tub from Master Spas creates 360-support for the limbs, taking the pressure off the joints and helping to ease pain and reduce inflammation.

Learn more about how the buoyancy of water can benefit you. Click here!

Discover more about the benefits of hot water therapy, and visit your local Master Spas dealer.