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Using Your Hot Tub To Cure Your Ills

By: Jerry Shearier


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Anyone who has ever has the fortunate experience of being in the hot tub knows the immense pleasure that the soothing, heated water brings to us. The warm water relaxes us by dilating our blood vessels thus making it easier for the blood to circulate throughout our bodies. In recent years, however, warm water therapy is being used for a lot more than simple enjoyment and relaxation - as pleasurable as that may be. There are a number of studies are in place testing the effects of hot tubs on diabetes, hypertension, back pain, and other medical problems.

Hydrotherapy is not new - in various forms, it has been around for centuries. As far back as the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Rome, and Greece, physicians have taken advantage of hydrotherapy to help in the healing of injuries, treatment of disease, and to maintain existing health. Its use has been recorded in ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations where, it was not only used to treat disease, but also used to increase blood circulation. They discovered that when damaged tissue is exposed to warm water, the increased blood flow to the damaged area helped it to recover. These days, hot springs are used by citizens of countries the world over including the United States, Italy, and Japan among others.

Since the mid 1940's, companies have experimented with hydrotherapy employing man-made water tanks filled with swirling water. The swirling water is created by jets which create forced air to move the water around the tank. These days, saunas come with a wide variety of specialized jets. And, when it comes to therapy, withing reason, the more jets you have in the hot tub the greater the effect on your body.

At least one study in Britain shows that patients suffering from lower-back pain show much greater improvement in back flexibility and back pain levels than similar patients who received only medication. People suffering from arthritis usually find their joints less stiff and more flexible after a sauna session. In addition, the amount of inflammation in the joints seems to decrease after a small amount of time in a hot tub.

There is an additional study in Britain involving diabetes that is interesting as well. It seems that people with type-2 diabetes saw their blood sugar lowered after spending some time in a hot tub. And people who suffer from insomnia seem to find sleep easier after a short hot tub session before going to bed. In fact, these days, it seems as though every year researchers are finding all new sorts of therapeutic uses for saunas.

When you have a normal massage, the pressure of the hands on your body works to relax muscles and relieve pressure on nerves. Hot tub jets used for massage are placed in various patterns that can force water with pinpoint accuracy at various parts of the body to help stimulate muscle groups. The movement of the water streams simulates a manual massaging action.

Another type of jet is used to create mini-vortexes of water help to simulate the body's blood circulation. If you need hydrotherapy to a large area of the body such as your back, you'll find jets that move entire waves of water horizontally and vertically. Every manufacturer has a variety of different jets that they've created for different therapeutic purposes. In addition, many companies make multi-purpose jets that come with interchangeable nozzles and can serve a variety of different needs.

The fact that researchers seem to be finding all of these health applications is not a license for you to self-medicate. If you are suffering an illness and planning to use your hot tub as part of your treatment, make sure that you consult with and get the OK from your physician.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Jerry Shearier writes about hot tub and sauna maintenance issues. For additional info on hot tub care, prices of hot tubs, and discount spa covers, please visit his website.

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