How Can My Hot Tub Help Ease Joint Pain?

When natural remedies were the only available options, warm-water immersion was the best solution for muscle and joint pain. Many hundreds of years later, it’s still considered a very effective treatment for a wide range of musculoskeletal issues – and a hot tub is one of the most convenient ways to get it.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, Regular sessions in your hot tub keep joints moving. It restores and preserves strength and flexibility and also protects your joints from further damage.”

Why Does Warm Water Help Joints?

Because water is buoyant, it reduces gravity’s pull on joints. When submerged, the body weighs about 90 percent less. Weight and compression of the joints, which are often the cause of pain, are diminished while still providing 360-degree support. The warm water also raises body temperature and increases circulation, which encourages better movement.

“It makes you feel better,” said Dr. Bruce E. Becker, director of the National Aquatics and Sports Medicine Institute at Washington State University, in an Arthritis Foundation article. “It makes the joints looser. It reduces pain and it seems to have a somewhat prolonged effect that goes beyond the period of immersion.”

How Long Should I Soak in a hot tub?

According to Dr. Becker’s research, the advantages of warm water immersion develop and reach their maximum benefit after about 20 minutes. Research such as Dr. Becker’s is one of the foundation blocks of our 20-minute renewal blog and the wide range of personal wellness benefits associated with daily hot tub use.

How Warm Should The Water Be?

For joint pain relief, soak in warm water between 92 degrees and 100 degrees.

How Can I Maximize Hot Tub Benefits?

Use the jets! The massage you get in a hot tub releases muscle tension and increases circulation. Soft tissue becomes more flexible and movement becomes easier. Caldera Spas hot tubs are designed to provide massage to all major muscle groups as you move seat to seat. We call it Hot Tub Circuit Therapy, and it can provide a full-body massage during that 20-minute soak.

While immersed, you can also try gentle stretching and simple range-of-movement exercises that can help alleviate pain and stiffness.

What Other Natural Remedies Are Available For Joint Pain Relief?

In other blog entries, we’ve explored research covering the use of both cherry juice and the spice turmeric as natural dietary supplements that can decrease inflammation and ease joint pain. As always, check with your physician before taking any supplements.

We know that every individual is different and that a remedy that works for some may not work for others. Which makes us wonder…have you ever used your hot tub to relieve the aches and pains associated with arthritis or mild joint discomfort? How effective was it? Did you soak for 20 minutes and maintain the ‘treatment’ for a sustained number of days? Have you discovered other natural ways to deal with joint pain? Have you ever tried Hot Tub Circuit Therapy in your Caldera^® Spas hot tub, and how did it make you feel?

If you’re willing to share your story with others in the comments below, we’d love to hear about your personal experiences. Thank you!