Hot Tub For Arthritis

There are many health benefits hot tubs provide that most people don't know.

For starters, they can help you deal with the crippling pain that comes from having arthritis. There have been many research accounts from the Arthritis Foundation the confirm positive results of warm water therapy.

Hydrotherapy is one of the best treatments for arthritis sufferers. Beyond soaking your joints in a warm bath, hot tubs utilize jets to apply pressure. With that said, not all hot tubs are created equal. If you’re looking to reap the benefits of hydrotherapy, let us tell you about the best hot tub for arthritis and all of the health benefits it produces.

IS A HOT TUB GOOD FOR ARTHRITIS?

While there aren’t results across the board that are the same for every person with arthritis, there is an increasing amount of scientific literature on the subject wherein scientists have seen a positive correlation between arthritis pain relief and hot tub hydrotherapy.

For thousands of years, warm water hydrotherapy has been used to help patients with arthritis. It is actually one of the oldest forms of alternative pain relief to date. Many studies suggest the positive results of pain reduction stem from hot tub use. In one study on knee osteoarthritis patients who were given hot tub hydrotherapy, the quality of life metrics improved, and clinical symptoms were managed overall.

BEST HOT TUB FOR ARTHRITIS

There is no one “best hot tub for arthritis,” as it is all a matter of personal preference. With that said, there are many great features in the Jacuzzi J-425 Hot Tub that make it enjoyable for Arthritis patients.

For starters, it is built with a low-profile design, which makes it very easy to get in and out of. There are also additional non-slip steps for those who need help getting in and out of the hot tub. The patented PowerPro Jets are fully-adjustable, allowing you to optimize your hydromassage for more tender muscles and joints.

HOT TUB EXERCISES FOR ARTHRITIS

When it comes to hot therapy for arthritis, the type of exercises that you choose to do will ultimately depend on what kind of arthritis you have and which joints are affected. Regardless of what kind of arthritis you have, though, you should begin your exercise routine with a full-body stretch.

Remember, when you are starting your stretching routine, you might not be able to extend each of your body parts completely. Don’t give up at this point. Even if you can’t fully extend your joint does not mean that you aren’t benefitting from the stretch. Make sure to talk to your doctor about the type of discomfort you might be feeling during your arthritis stretching routine.

Here are some of the basic stretching routines that you can perform when sitting in your hot tub at home! Of course, with anything physical, you should consult with a medical professional before beginning if you feel nervous.

STRETCH YOUR SHOULDER, ELBOWS, WRISTS, AND HANDS

Interlace your fingers and face your palms toward you. Rotate your palms away from your face and stretch your arms away from you as far as you possibly can without going outside of your comfort zone. Hold this stretch for 30 seconds while breathing deeply. Repeat three times over.

EXTEND YOUR ELBOWS

Put one of your hands behind your elbow on the opposite arm. Extend that arm into a straight position. Now, swing your extended arm towards the other shoulder and then towards your chest. While doing so, we recommend twisting your waist in the direction of the arm that is bent, though it is not necessary. Hold this pose for 30 seconds while breathing deeply. Release and repeat on the other side. This will help to stretch out your upper and lower back muscles.

STRETCH YOUR ANKLES AND FEET

Stretch your legs toward the hot tub wall and place your feet on it. Push into the wall with your toes and lift your ankles off the wall so that only your toes are in contact with the wall. Hold this pose for 30 seconds and release. Give your toes a good wiggle before repeating this stretch a few more times.

FAQ

WHAT IS BETTER FOR ARTHRITIS HOT TUB STEAM ROOM OR DRY HEAT SAUNA?

Dry heat saunas are very different from steam rooms in that they utilize a heater with a stack of rocks that radiates heat into a small room. While most dry saunas have water that you can pour over the bed of hot stones to help generate a bit of steam, they are nowhere near the same as steam rooms when it comes to humidity.

While dry saunas provide much more heat than steam rooms, they don’t have the same humidity content that can help to loosen your joints. Remember, you are trying to loosen your joints, not sweat!

HOW TO USE A HOT TUB FOR ARTHRITIS?

There are many ways that having a hot tub can make living with arthritis much more manageable. We recommend creating a stretching and exercise routine to help relieve any pain or pressure in your joints. Exercising in the hot tub can improve your arthritis in two main ways:

Helping joints and muscles to avoid pain through supportive buoyancy

Using water-resistance to make your exercise movements more effective overall

Simple stretching exercises are great in the hot tub, as they can increase your flexibility. Lastly, we also recommend pacing or meditation activities. These can help to reduce the stress that comes from dealing with arthritis on day-to-day.

WHICH IS BEST FOR ARTHRITIS, A SAUNA OR HOT TUB? 

Heat can help to loosen up the joints, meaning any kind of heat that is applied is going to be beneficial. Hot tubs and saunas both generate heat, helping to ease any pain, increase mobility, and promote overall well-being.

With that said, we recommend hot tubs over saunas for arthritis, as they have the addition of water buoyancy. They can help to decompress the joints thanks to the reduction of gravity’s force, which is weighing down upon us at all times. Buoyancy can help to increase blood circulation while decreasing pain and inflammation.

WHAT IS AN INFLATABLE HOT TUB LIKE FOR SOMEONE WITH ARTHRITIS?

Inflatable hot tubs have just about all of the same benefits as traditional hot tubs when it comes to arthritis patients. What is great about inflatable hot tubs is that they are very portable and easy to set up.

If you suffer from arthritis, it is more than likely that heavy-lifting tasks aren’t very easy for you. Having the ability to set a lightweight, inflatable hot tub up with ease is an absolute dream. Plus, if you ever want to rearrange the yard for the season, inflatable hot tubs can be emptied and moved with ease as well.

WHAT IS THE BEST HOT TUB TEMPERATURE FOR ARTHRITIS?

Hot tub temperature can vary based on personal preference, though there are a few guidelines for best practice. For starters, hot tub manufacturers always recommend that you never set your hot tub above 104-degrees Fahrenheit. This should be pretty easy, as most hot tubs don’t exceed this temperature anyway.

They also recommend starting out with a lower temperature that is somewhere between 98-100 degrees Fahrenheit. You can increase the temperature if you’re comfortable doing so, though just make sure to focus on the fact that you are trying to take advantage of therapeutic effects, not make a hot soup.

IS SOAKING IN EPSOM SALT GOOD FOR ARTHRITIS?

Epsom salt has been around for hundreds of years, and it is one of the best natural pain remedies. One soak session with epsom salt in the tub could help to take your arthritis pains away for the day. Of course, don’t get Epsom salt confused with regular salt, as this is not the same salt you put on your tortilla chips.

Epsom is a town in England with natural hot springs where the salt is collected. When you put Epsom salt in water, the sulfate and magnesium that are present within it break down and soak through your skin. Essentially, soaking in Epsom salt water can help to loosen stiff joints and relax your muscles.

NEXT STEPS

They are great for the mind, body, and soul, helping to increase your overall well-being.

If you have Medicare, see our will Medicare pay for a hot tub post to see if your arthritis condition would qualify you for a free hot tub through Medicare. 

We encourage you to spend some time looking at hot tubs if you are interested in alternative hydrotherapy. There are so many people out there living with pain every day. Why not take the first step to take that pain away? Happy hot tubbing!