Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in joints has deteriorated, causing the bones to rub together. This condition creates stiffness and pain in the body, particularly in the knees and hips as well as in the thumb joints. Fortunately, hydrotherapy provides osteoporosis sufferers with significant relief. Here’s the scoop on how to use hydrotherapy to help relieve the suffering caused by this type of arthritis.
Decreases Pain and Inflammation
According to Rocky Mountain Hot Tub Co., it is scientifically proven that regularly using a hot tub can decrease the causes of inflammation and pain for those suffering from osteoarthritis. The Arthritis Foundation maintains that hydrotherapy has the potential to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia and other musculoskeletal issues. The therapeutic use of heat alters the way the body experiences pain, reducing the effects of inflammation and stiffness that cause pain in the joints. Aside from this, the body moves more easily in water than it does on the ground, and gentle movements can help improve mobility in the joints.
How Often Should You Use a Hot Tub?
Fortunately, according to the Arthritis Foundation, research shows that immersing in warm water three to five times a week for twenty to forty minutes at a time is enormously beneficial for anyone suffering from arthritis. The pull of gravity on the joints can aggravate arthritis, and the buoyancy of water reduces that stress. If your arthritis regularly causes you a great deal of suffering, a stint in your backyard hot tub can become a regular source of relief.
Make Sure to Alternate with Cold Therapy
The most complete arthritis therapies usually include both sessions of heat and cold. If you’re already doing heat therapy, then you should also consider adding some cold therapy sessions to get more complete relief. Cold packs not only lessen the pain the arthritis sufferer feels but also decrease the swelling that causes stiffness. According to JointFlex, cold therapies offer some additional benefits by blocking the nerves’ impulses to the joints, which also decreases the amount of pain a person feels.
Hydrotherapy counts as one of the most effective and least expensive treatments for osteoarthritis. It has been shown to reduce feelings of pain and stiffness caused by inflammation. Finally, it’s a safe therapy to use up to five times a week, giving the arthritis sufferer a go-to resource to help manage and soothe a chronic condition.
