Performing healing-focused exercises in a hot tub enhances physical therapy while providing other numerous health benefits. A stubborn, nagging injury demands something that shifts and promotes healing. This is where a hot tub makes the difference in rehabilitation and recovery. Below are several activities that can help any physical therapist with their client’s recovery:
- Spa therapy helps relax tense and sore muscles, relieve arthritis pain, reduce stiffness, and increase blood flow which results in increased flexibility.
- Tissues heal most effectively when they receive a healthy supply of blood. Our extremities may suffer poor healing due to insufficient or compromised blood flow. This results in a prolonged healing process. The feet, ankles, lower legs and knees are prone to this occurrence. Using a hot tub will improve blood circulation and therefore enhance the body’s ability to circulate blood to injured areas.
- Stretching in a hot tub can improve healing. The warm water helps the body to better stretch than a cold start lying on the floor. Buoyancy allows less pressure to be placed on body parts, and more focus on the area to be stretched.
- Visual the tissues in the injured area building new, healthy tissue. See the energy flow into the area, and the damage flowing out. The power of visualization is well-documented as being effective in the recovery process.
- A hot tub is the perfect environment for quieting the mind. The sound of the jets creates a mental space that fosters relaxation and stress reduction. The benefits of meditation coupled with the inherent benefits of using a hot tub helps with the healing process.
- An injury can cause someone to hold their breath more than normal. The higher the pain, the more often this occurs. Oxygen is essential for life, and for the healing process to occur. Slow and focused breathing in a hot tub is a perfect way to encourage the healing process.
