Hot tub manufacturing companies such as ThermoSpas spend a large amount of time presenting the relaxation benefits of their products. A nice dip in a hot tub or spa in the evening can help many people feel relaxed after a stressful day of work. Hot tubs and spas provide a high degree of luxury that people can enjoy at home as well – giving these products a big selling point for many people.
However, hot tubs are more than just relaxation tools. In fact, many people can take advantage of a hot tub for something entirely different from relaxing: exercise.
For many, hot tubs offer an exercise solution that allows them to regain their ability to get active without presenting the typical exhaustive challenges of regular exercise. This type of exercise can help many people stay active or heal injuries without a total cessation of physical activity.
“Water is a wonderful medium in which to exercise for fitness gains, weight loss, injury prevention and rehab,” says Livestrong contributor Jennifer Andrews. “The buoyancy of water makes for a low-impact, non-weight-bearing exercise that is easier on joints than running or jumping activities.”
Andrews is among the countless health and wellness writers who advocate the use of water-based exercise as an effective fitness solution. She recommends the usage of a pool for several types of water fitness – including swimming.
However, the pool isn’t the only place a person can get a good workout. Many types of exercises can be completed in a hot tub manufactured by companies like ThermoSpas.
“The pool is the ideal place to do aerobic and strengthening exercises due to its larger size and depth. However, some stretching and toning exercises can also be executed in a hot tub,” she says.
Companies like ThermoSpas are among the many manufacturers who recommend the use of hot tubs as a means of hydrotherapy and exercise.
“Hot tubs are a great way to get exercise, especially if you have recently experienced an injury or have other problems with mobility or range of motion,” a representative from ThermoSpas says.
Utilizing hot tubs as a solution for hydrotherapy can also help bring many people relief from pain, stiffness and other injuries and chronic issues.
“Research has continued supporting hydrotherapy as an effective way for many people to manage pain,” the representative says. “People with arthritis or other joint issues can find relief, and in many cases get much-needed exercise in a hot tub they never would be able to get in any other way.”
A growing number of scientists and medical professionals have tested the effectiveness of hydrotherapy as an effective exercise and pain management tool. One study entitled “Evidence for Effective Hydrotherapy” in the medical journal Physiotherapy took a more direct look at the benefits of the practice. Researchers tested the effectiveness of hydrotherapy for a variety of concerns and found striking evidence in support of the practice.
“The balance of high to moderate quality evidence supported benefit from hydrotherapy in pain, function, self-efficacy and affect, joint mobility, strength, and balance, particularly among older adults, subjects with rheumatic conditions and chronic low back pain,” the study states.
Types of Hot Tub Exercises
Below are several types of hot-tub exercises recommended by the ThermoSpas staff:
Water Walking
Just a little bit of walking within a hot tub can help add a small cardiovascular boost. It can also help strengthen leg and knee muscles as well as hip flexors. Walking can be done back and forth and side-to-side depending on the size of the hot tub. In smaller hot tubs, walking in place in the center of the unit can also achieve similar results.
Knee Raises
This exercise is simple to complete and effective for helping ease joint pain and tension. Simply stand in the center of the hot tub and alternate raising and lowering your knees. You can adjust the speed of the knee raises as well as the height you lift your legs based on your own level of strength. Continue the exercise from 15 minutes to a half hour for the best results.
Floating Dumbbells
Another exercise recommended by the ThermoSpas teams is as simple as a pair of water-based dumbbells. These weights – generally made of foam and floatable – can provide resistance and very effective weight training when brought down into the water. This exercise is done by pushing the weights from floating on the surface of the water down next to the body. Repeat for multiple repetitions and three to five sets – or until fatigued. The exercise targets the biceps, triceps and shoulder muscles.
Stretching and Flexing
A simple and effective way to increase flexibility comes by gentle stretching techniques done within a hot tub. The warm water can help loosen tight muscles and provide a lower-impact way to stretch. Stretches can be performed in a variety of ways. It can help get a person more flexible by slowly stretching out injured muscles. For some people, regular stretching can be done just to have a yoga-like session for overall wellness.
Solutions for Everyone
No matter a person’s level of fitness, hot tub exercise is a great way to get fit or stay fit, without worrying about issues like joint pain or impact carried by regular exercise. For people who are injured or suffering with other problems, a hot tub from manufacturers like ThermoSpas can mean the solution for getting the exercise they need for continued health.