Hydrotherapy can help the body repair itself

When joints are damaged, inflamed or painful, muscles become more tense in an effort to protect themselves. Hydrotherapy can help. The buoyancy of water puts less stress on the muscles because they support less weight, and by moving and exercising the affected joints, while in the water, the muscles become more limber and pain is often reduced, even after leaving the spa.

People who just have a bad back, or are sore from heavy lifting, or suffer from bending over in the garden all day, can find instant relief, by having their own relaxing portable spa pool in the house or back yard.

Lower back pain is the number two reason in New Zealand (after colds and flu) for a visit to the doctor, thousands of people suffer needlessly.

For many years, Europeans have used spa therapy (soaking in hot baths of mineral water) as an alternative treatment for various chronic diseases. Yet, the effectiveness of such therapy for chronic lower back pain has not been well documented.

In 1995, a study published in the British Journal of Rheumatology offered evidence that spa tub therapy aids both short and long term benefits for people with lower back pain. A later study, published in the Journal of Rheumatology by a group of researchers in France, sought to confirm these results and quantify the overall benefits of spa therapy.

After three weeks of consistent spa therapy, examinations showed more improvement in the health status (as measured in pain duration and intensity and back flexibility) of the spa treatment group than in the medication only group. After six months, significant improvement continued in the spa therapy group. In addition, their use of analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs had decreased. This research information was featured in the March-April 1996 issue of Arthritis Today, compiled and edited by Mary Anne Dunkin. Hot Spring USA support the American Arthritis Foundation to financially assist arthritis research.