There is significant evidence that continued regular use of a spa pool can improve a number of health related issues including arthritis, sleep disorder, stress and high blood pressure

Regular use of a spa pool can provide a number of benefits for a broad spectrum of people across NZ.

Relaxation and Rejuvenation… Its well recognised that people live busier and more stressful lives than at any other stage in the history of humankind. The demands of work, family, friends along with the constant bombardment from business and media, enabled by technology, has resulted in the need to escape, unwind and relax for most of society.

Spa pool hydrotherapy combines heat, buoyancy and massage to help relax muscles, increase circulation and help relieve pain and tension. A spa pool can be a great way to relieve back pain and reward yourself with a massage or some quality R&R time.

Hydrotherapy uses water to deliver temperature and pressure changes to the body and works great for anyone with tightness in their muscles or back pain such as athletes, the elderly and arthritis sufferers. Soaking in hot water for up to 20 minutes will cause organs of the endocrine system to become less active, and can decrease blood pressure. This results in a relaxed, less stressful state.

Hydrotherapy also:

● Provides temporary relief of minor aches and pains

● Helps reduce levels of stress and anxiety

● Relaxation provides a feeling of well-being

● Temporarily increases circulation where massaged

● Helps relieve muscle soreness, stiffness, and tension arthritis relief

Approximately 647,000 people in NZ are affected by arthritis, and could benefit from the relief provided by soaking in the warm, soothing water of a spa pool. A spa pool can provide the warmth and massage needed to relax joints and muscles, all from the convenience and comfort of your backyard or balcony.

Typically, treatment for these sufferers means lots of prescription anti-inflammatory medications and painkillers. However, some medications cause side effects, and a natural approach to arthritis relief is becoming more popular.

Simple hot and cold treatments can make a world of difference when it comes to arthritis relief. Long, warm showers or soaks in a spa pool - especially in the morning - helps ease stiffness in your joints.

According to The Arthritis Foundation, regular sessions in a spa pool keeps joints moving, preserves strength and flexibility and protects your joints from further damage.

Better sleep does the body good …Adequate sleep time can make a big difference in your daily life. Your body needs time to shift into sleep mode. You can enhance this effect by sitting in a spa pool or taking a bath prior to bed.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, soaking in warm water causes the elevation, then drop of the body’s internal temperature, helping you fall asleep.

According to the Center for Disease Control, more than one-quarter of the U.S. population report occasionally not getting enough sleep, while nearly 10% experience chronic insomnia…

Experts say an average adult needs between 7-9 hours of sleep each night, which can be nearly impossible for some individuals. The good news is there are natural ways for you to reap sleep benefits that does not require pills or other substances i.e. water.

Spa pools have been recognised as tools for relaxation and are known to help those with sleeping issues get some relief. A soak in a spa pool can do wonders for helping you achieve a peaceful night’s sleep since the body’s core internal thermostat drops after leaving the water, which signals the body that it’s time to sleep. Joyce Walsleben, PhD, associate professor at New York University School of Medicine, says: “If you raise your temperature a degree or two…the steeper drop at bedtime is more likely to put you in a deep sleep.”

As noted in the scientific journal Sleep, relaxing in hot water

before going to bed can help individuals suffering from a sleep disorder fall into a deeper, more restful sleep. The hot, swirling water leaves you feeling both mentally and emotionally relaxed.

Improve your cardiovascular health.. According to Bruce Becker, M.D., immersing yourself in water in general up to your neck gives you a cardiac workout. This is because water puts more pressure on your body which increases your cardiac volume. In other words, when you’re soaking in water, your heart works harder and that helps it stay healthy.

It can help alleviate aches and pains Hot water in general helps relax your body. This can alleviate aches and pains associated with athletic injuries like muscle pulls or even arthritis. If you’re in pain and it’s not a broken bone, a good soak will probably help you feel better.

Help lower blood pressure.. A Mayo Clinic research study shows that sitting in a spa pool can lower your blood pressure. This is great for those who are at risk for heart disease or suffer from hypertension. The research showed that hot water, like in spa pools, increases your heart rate while lowering your blood pressure which helps reinforce the earlier fact that it can help your cardiovascular health.

Helps diabetes and weight loss… A small study has shown that people with diabetes who take regular spa pools can reduce their blood sugar and blood glucose levels. It also showed that taking a spa pool for 30 minutes, six days a week lost four pounds in a month without making a single change to their diet or exercise.

Helps clean your body …Heat opens up your pores and this can be a good thing when you’re in a clean environment like a spa pool. By opening the pores, you give the water a chance to work its way in and clean out the various dirt and toxins from your skin. The result is a refreshed feeling with potentially clearer skin. The detoxification process can make you feel better too!

Help reduce headaches.. Between the dilated blood vessels, relaxation and warmth spa pools can also help reduce headaches. By dilating the blood vessels it can decrease pressure in your head which helps get rid of headaches while general relaxation and warmth continue the process. If you suffer from headaches then some quality spa pool time can help.

Improving your self esteem and confidence…. When you feel good, you have good thoughts. Since spa pools can do all these amazing things for you, the mental benefit is pretty tangible. When you get into a spa pool feeling bad and the pool makes you feel better, it’ll make you feel better about yourself and when you feel good, you feel more confident. A good soak before a big event can help you relax, have more confidence in yourself, and help you be more prepared mentally.

It can improve anxiety…. Anxiety is a tough problem to tackle for a lot of people but spa pools can help. Thanks to the relaxation, stress relief and the heat, spa pools can help you feel less anxiety. Of course, it’ll take more than a spa bath to get rid of all of it but every little bit helps!