“How often should I use a hot tub?” Excellent question! You should feel proud that you’re taking such a proactive step in your physical well-being. Please note that you should always consult your healthcare provider before starting a hot tub regimen.
While subjecting the body to a hot tub environment can be therapeutic, everybody is different. Therefore, you want to take the crucial step of assessing how the heated water may affect you given your unique history. Once you’re given the “all clear” from your doctor, then you may move on to deciding how often to soak.
How often should I use a hot tub? It depends.
The frequency of your hot tub soaks depends on the results you want. If you soak sporadically, your body usually feels more immediate effects (e.g., targeted muscle pain relief, reduced stress, etc.). However, if you soak on a more regular basis, you’re more likely to experience lasting effects. These include enhanced pain and stress management, improved sleep, reduced inflammation, and better circulation just to name a few.
With that said, hot tub owners generally benefit most from their investment when they pursue long-lasting health benefits. By spending more time in the hot tub, they don’t have to spend as much time (or money) in the doctor’s office. Therefore, approach your hot tub as you would any other health regimen—in regular, personalized doses.
Different bodies require different treatments.
Perhaps you’ve been exposed to hot tub treatments in the past. Wonderful! Your body is nicely primed for ongoing practice in a tub of your own. Maybe this is a completely new experience for you, and you’re not sure how your body will respond. That’s fine too! The important thing to remember is that everyone is different.
This is why it’s so critical to talk with your doctor before using a hot tub, especially with regular use. If, indeed, you’re ready to venture into warmer waters but aren’t sure where to start, never fear. This is common for people just starting out in hot tub ownership.
Experiment by spending 15 minutes at a time in mild-temperature water. The lowest temperature for most hot tubs is about 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If that feels comfortable, increase the temperature by a few degrees the next time you soak. Repeat this process until you find a temperature that suits you. Most users feel comfortable in waters around 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Don’t overdo it.
When we’re blissfully immersed in the soothing water of a hot tub, we often forget an important fact. Hot tubs are hot. Before we know it, we’ve had too much of a good thing, and our body doesn’t like it.
As far as temperature is concerned, you never want to exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The amount of time you spend in the water has an inverse relationship to the temperature. The hotter it is, the shorter your soak should be. Research suggests that at those sweet spot temperatures mentioned above, your body only needs 20 minutes to enjoy maximum benefit. Anything longer than 30 minutes puts you at risk of dizziness, lightheadedness, and nausea.
If you stay within the limits described above, you can soak in your tub multiple times a day if you wish. Use it to kickstart your morning. Make it part of your wind-down routine in the evening. Step into it after a demanding workout to accelerate your recovery.
In any case, aim for multiple soaks per week. You may find that as you experience more of its benefits, you’ll make it more of a priority. Who knows? It may become your meditation practice that helps clear the physical and mental noise in your day.
Your hot tub regimen is yours to control.
It’s your tub in your home. You should be able to use it as often as you like. Remember, that requires regular, thorough maintenance as well. So call on the experts at Goodall Pools & Spas for all your hot tub ownership questions. From spa chemicals to the tubs themselves, we have everything to be your one-stop shop for a rewarding hot tub experience. Contact us or visit one of our five Central Pennsylvania locations today.
