Heat treatment can help ease pain and make it easier to move around, but it isn’t always the best choice for everyone. People often use hot tubs to relax and ease aches and pains in their muscles, but for some people, they can worsen back pain. This piece will discuss why hot tub makes back pain worse and what other options might be better for people with this problem.
How can hot tubs help with back pain?
Most hot tubs are set between 100 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit, which helps bring more blood and oxygen to the area. This boost in blood flow can help ease muscle tension and pain and make you more mobile and flexible.
The heat from the hot tub also causes the body’s natural drugs, called endorphins, to come out. This can help relieve back pain temporarily and help you relax.
But there are times when hot tubs can make back pain worse. This is especially true for people with certain injuries or illnesses.
Why Hot Tubs Can Make Back Pain Worse?
Inflammation
Heat treatment can help reduce muscle tension and make you feel more relaxed, but it can also make the affected area more inflamed. For people with conditions like arthritis, where inflammation is a big cause of pain, the heat from the hot tub can worsen the pain.
Dehydration
Not drinking enough water can result in muscle cramps, which can exacerbate back pain. High temperatures and being in water can make you lose water in a hot tub. Dehydration can also make the spine more likely to get hurt or damaged.
Pressure on the Spine
The stability of the water in a hot tub can help relieve pressure on the joints and spine, which can help people with back pain. But the pressure of the water can also put extra stress on the spine, especially if the person is not sitting in the right way or keeping a good balance. This could cause more pain and trouble.
Nerve Sensitivity
Hot tubs can also exacerbate nerve sensitivity, particularly if the user has a nerve condition or injury. Hot water can irritate the nerves, worsening the pain and soreness.
What are the alternatives to hot tubs for back pain relief?
If hot tubs worsen your back pain, you might find that other treatments work better for you.
Use of ice
Ice treatment for inflammation and stiffness works well, especially for new injuries. Putting an ice pack on the injured area for 10 to 15 minutes can help relieve pain and other symptoms.
Stretching and Exercise
Stretching and working out can make you more flexible and mobile, making you feel less pain and soreness. People with back pain may find it especially helpful to do low-impact workouts like swimming, walking, or yoga.
Massage Therapy
Massage treatments can help relieve muscle tension and make you feel more relaxed. A skilled massage therapist can use different methods to relieve pain in specific areas.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care can help reduce pain and make it easier to move around. A chiropractor can realign the spine and take pressure off the nerves and joints by changing the spine.
What are the negative effects of hot tubs?
Even though hot tubs can be a great way to relax and unwind, some things could go wrong. It’s important to know the risks of using a hot tub, which include irritated skin and illnesses caused by germs. In this article, we’ll talk about some of the bad things that can happen when you use a hot tub and how to lower the risks.
Skin Irritation
One of the worst things that can happen when you use a hot tub is that your skin will feel bad. Hot water, chemicals, and germs in a hot tub can all dry, itch, or redden your skin. A rash or spots could also happen to some people.
If you shower before and after using a hot tub, your skin may be less likely to hurt. It’s important to keep the hot tub’s elements balanced so the skin doesn’t get irritated. This means that the pH and chlorine levels must be checked often, and chemicals must be added as needed.
Bacterial Infections
Bacteria can grow in hot tubs that aren’t cleaned often enough or cared for properly. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria that causes pseudomonas dermatitis, and folliculitis, an infection of the hair follicles, are just two examples of the bacterial infections that infected hot tub water can cause.
It’s important to clean and maintain the hot tub often to lower the chance of getting sick from germs. This means that chemicals need to be added often, the filter needs to be cleaned, and every three to four months, the water needs to be drained and replaced. Also, you should shower before and after using a hot tub and not swallow hot pool water.
Dehydration
When you’re in a hot tub, you might lose water because of the heat and the water. When dehydrated, you can get headaches, feel dizzy, and do other things. Dehydration can also increase the chances of getting hurt or hurting yourself.
Before and after using a hot tub, you should drink a lot of water so you don’t get thirsty. Also, you should only stay in the hot tub for 15–20 minutes at a time. Stay out of the hot tub if you have a fever or feel sick.
Blood pressure that is too high
The heat from hot tubs can raise blood pressure, which can be dangerous for people with high blood pressure or other heart problems. A long time in hot water can also make you pass out or feel dizzy.
You should only stay in the hot tub for 15 to 20 minutes to keep your blood pressure from rising. You should also stay out of the hot tub if you have a heart problem or high blood pressure. Cooling down slowly after getting out of the hot tub is also important.
Pregnancy Risks
Using a hot tub while pregnant can be risky, especially in the first three months. The high temperatures can make the mother sweat, hurting the growing baby.
Using a hot tub while pregnant, especially in the first three months, can make it more likely that something will go wrong. Talking to a doctor or nurse before using a hot tub while pregnant is also important.
Conclusion
Even though hot tubs can help with back pain for some people, they may not be the best option for everyone. Back pain can worsen in a hot tub because of inflammation, dehydration, pressure on the spine, and nerve sensitivity. If you feel more pain and soreness after using a hot tub, you might want to try ice therapy, stretching and exercise, massage therapy, or chiropractic care as alternatives. Before starting a new treatment plan for your back, you should always talk to a doctor.