Content published by Home & Cottage Centre - 705-549-2710 in Midland, Ontario, Canada

Healing Hot Water

Water immersion is one of natures best forms of therapy.

As we experience life, we often feel pain and sore muscles and joints. Healing happens faster as blood flow to the injured location increases. When we perform light exercise, our muscles are often less sore. This is because exercise increases blood flow, thus improving the healing. Immersion in all temperatures of water has been used extensively for years to promote the healing of wounds and injuries. The success and positive results associates with water immersion have been noted in the healing of wounds. More specifically, water immersion helps in the healing of muscles and/or joint injuries.

There are several ways in which hot water immersion improves healing:

1		Immersion increases circulation. When muscles are warmed and the body is immersed, the blood supply to the area muscles increases. More blood flow means more nutrients are available to help cells regenerate in order to speed the healing process. Also, the increase in the blood circulation helps remove pain causing chemicals that build up in tissues. As a result, muscle pain goes away faster.

2		When our bodies are immersed, water exerts pressure on our body. This increased pressure tends to reduce swelling. For example, our ankles and feet are less likely to swell in water than on land.

3		The buoyancy of the water provides unique benefits that are significant. Immersion in water reduces the amount of weight we bear on our joints due to gravity. The result is that we feel lighter in water. Activities we may find painful on land are easier in water. Water is thicker than air and provides resistance to movements. The resistance increases depending on how fast we move against the water. This is called graded resistance, which is helpful when we exercise in water to help recover from injuries. Numerous studies demonstrate the increased range of motion and decreased pain when therapeutic exercise is performed under water.

4		Being able to “get around” is very important to most people. Water plays a useful role for people who suffer from arthritis, knee, hip or other joint problems. Immersion in warm water tends to increase joint mobility, reduce joint stiffness, and increase flexibility and range of motion. For example, people with arthritis and lower back pain experience greater flexibility and less pain with regular use of warm water immersion. Therapy can be painful. Performing therapy in water is often less painful. Professionals who provide therapy recognize that immersion can lead to a faster and a longer-lasting recovery. As a result, water is commonly used in physical therapy and rehabilitation. An environment which is less prone to cause pain, and is even pleasurable, makes immersion in warm water a unique healing environment.

"Healing happens faster as blood flow to the injured location increases."

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