More and more Australians are discovering the benefits of hydrotherapy and aqua therapy through swim spas. But is it actually worth it? Here are four big reasons that say yes!

1. Relieves symptoms of rheumatic conditions

The buoyancy of the water in a swim spa can help reduce pressure on joints and provide relief for people with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions such as:

• Osteoarthritis
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Lupus
• Ankylosing spondylitis

Here's how the combination of water and heat can help with some of these conditions:

• The warm water allows your muscles and joints to relax more easily, making the pain more manageable and the water exercises easier.
• The water also helps to support your weight by taking some of the strain off your joints and muscles.
• The water provides resistance for light strength training, which helps build muscle and strengthen joints.

Swim spas also often include some seating with jets placed to provide a gentle massage to the back, arms and legs. Hydro massage in a swim spa offers various health benefits. It can help to relieve muscle tension, reduce stress, improve circulation, and alleviate joint pain. It's also known for promoting relaxation and a sense of well-being.

For more details on the benefits of hydrotherapy on arthritis, check out this comprehensive guide by Arthritis Australia.

Your Ultimate Guide To Hydrotherapy: 5 Of The Best Hydrotherapy Spa Pools in Australia

2. Improves the onset and quality of sleep

The warm water in a swim spa can help relax and soothe muscles, promoting better sleep. A soak in your swim spa before bed can help alleviate bodily pain and tension, thereby making it easier to relax for sleep.

How does it work? When your body temperature is raised gently (within the safe temperature range for human bodies) a signal is sent to your body telling that it’s time to sleep. This warm and relaxed state can significantly improve the onset and quality of your sleep.

Make it even more relaxing with aromatherapy! Add a few drops of sleep-enhancing oils such as lavender and ylang ylang to the swim spa to enhance your hydrotherapy experience.

3. Helps patients with cardiovascular conditions

Regular hydrotherapy sessions have been found to improve blood circulation and promote overall cardiovascular health. Exposing a small area of your body to cold results in wider blood vessels and more blood circulation in deeper tissues. This reaction primarily helps keep a constant deep tissue temperature.

Swim spas offer a convenient environment for patients to easily fit in cardio exercises at home. You can do a number of water workouts to:

• improve your breathing
• lower blood pressure
• strengthen your heart

Swimming is a low-impact aerobic exercise where the water buoyancy supports you. By keeping your heart rate in the endurance zone (70% to 80% of your max heart rate), you can burn calories, lose weight, and, most importantly, increase your stroke volume. Increasing stroke volume means your heart pumps more blood per beat, providing vital organ support with less effort or strain.

Read more: How aquatic exercise with Swim Spas helps improve your fitness

4. Supports injury recovery and rehabilitation

Another huge benefit of hydrotherapy is its ability to support the recovery and rehabilitation process for individuals with injuries, chronic pain or those recovering from surgery. From professional athletes to senior citizens, anyone can use the power of water for recovery and rehabilitation.

For one, water allows people to perform a variety of exercises that would otherwise be too painful when done on land. Much like with rheumatic conditions, the hydrothermal nature of a swim spa creates an ideal environment for building strength in injured or weakened muscles and joints.

The buoyancy granted by water enables easier low-impact exercise to remove undue stress on your body. Meanwhile, the natural resistance provided by water allows you to complete strength-building exercises comfortably. You can also use the jets in your swim spa to adjust the level of resistance as your recovery progresses.

Read more: Quick and Easy Exercises You Can Do in Your Swim Spa

How does hydrotherapy work?

Hydrotherapy works by using warm water to relax muscles, increase blood circulation, and reduce pain and stress. The buoyancy of water supports the body, making exercises easier and promoting healing. It's like a soothing, liquid massage for your body!

How often should hydrotherapy be done?

The ideal frequency for hydrotherapy depends on your condition and the goals set by your physician, but on average, you can spend about one to two sessions per week with a professional or two to three days at home in your own swim spa.

How long should you stay in a hydrotherapy pool?

Hydrotherapy swim spas or pools are usually kept at a temperature of 34-35°C; staying in for 15-30 minutes is a great starting point, but this can vary based on individual tolerance and recommendations from a therapist.

These four benefits of hydrotherapy prove that swim spas aren't just for unwinding and relaxing; they are beneficial for health and wellness with Aquatherapy.

Aquatherapy with Swim Spa

Aquatherapy is a form of physical therapy or exercise that takes place in a pool or aquatic environment. A swim spa can be a suitable and convenient option for aquatherapy because it provides a controlled environment with water that can be adjusted to different temperatures, depths and resistance levels.

Engaging in water-based physical activity proves beneficial for individuals who face challenges in maintaining a regular exercise routine, including those in the midst of rehabilitation, physiotherapy, or post-training recovery. Performing gentle exercises in a spa pool or swim spa can mimic the positive outcomes of consistent exercise, all while minimising the physical strain.

• Resistance Training: Enhance your strength and flexibility by incorporating resistance bands into your spa pool routine. Gentle stretches using resistance bands can yield notable improvements.
• Toning: Elevate your core strength regimen with a variety of upper and lower body exercises to sculpt a sleek and toned physique, promoting an appealing body shape.
• Cardiovascular Fitness: The swim jets integrated into your swim spa pool can replicate the experience of a lap swimming session at your local pool, a high-intensity ocean swim, or even a challenging 10km run – all conveniently within your own backyard!
• Accelerated Progress: Exercising in the water offers unique advantages beyond land-based activities, potentially leading to quicker and more effective results.

So, invest in your long-term health today with a luxurious swim spa set up in your own backyard by mySpa Sydney.

If you want to learn more about how a swim spa could help improve your life, get in touch with our team at mySpa Sydney. We offer a great selection of swim spas equipped with all the features you’re looking for.