Cold or Hot? Which is Right for You?

We’ve talked about Hot Spring hot tubs, and we’ve talked about the Cold Plunge. Today, we’re going to compare these cold and hot offerings. If you’ve ever wondered which one is right for you, here’s all the info!

It’s worth noting that some of our customers actually choose both because they both have great benefits! Hot and cold therapies are like comparing night and day. They both have different benefits. We do like both because many people find relief in a combination of hot and cold therapies.

You may know that heat relaxes your muscles, dilates blood vessels, and helps increase blood flow. On the other spectrum, icy temperatures help reduce inflammation by constricting blood vessels. So, let’s get to it!

The Benefits of Hot Water Therapy

A hot water soak relaxes your muscles, relieves sore joints and tendons, helps get rid of stiffness, increases blood flow, helps you sleep, and can even relieve arthritis symptoms.

Hot water widens your blood vessels, which can reduce swelling, too.

A soak of just 15-45 minutes can help you feel immensely better. Do consult with your physician before starting any hot water therapy. Your doctor can help you decide how long is right for you. For many people, 15-20 minutes once a day does the trick.

With a hot tub, the ideal water temperature is about 104 degrees, and the ideal soak is 20 minutes. Some people prefer a lower temperature of 102 degrees.

If you are staying in your hot tub longer than 15-20 minutes, be sure to get out, take a short break, and drink some water.

When it comes to buying a hot tub, there is a great variation in prices. They can range from a few thousand to $20,000 plus. Your best bet when shopping for one is to come visit us. We can show the differences in price ranges, features, and accessories to help you find the perfect hot tub for you.

The Benefits of Cold Water Therapy

The ice bath, or Cold Plunge, treats inflammation, muscle soreness, and even high blood pressure. In addition, many people who use the Cold Plunge say they feel better.

After a workout, you’ll find the Cold Plunge provides relief from sore muscles and joints. It also speeds up muscle recovery. You may find an ice bath reduces swelling after an injury.

When using an ice bath, you immerse your body for a very short amount of time – mere minutes. Remember you are shocking your body, so this isn’t a luxurious soak like a hot tub.

As you plunge more and more often, you may find you can add an extra minute or two. Always talk to your doctor first, though, to ensure you are staying safe.

The temperature of our Cold Plunge can go as low as 39 degrees.

When looking at the costs of ice baths, you can expect to spend from $5000-$8000.

Schedule a Free Test Soak!

 

Comparing Both Therapies

Let’s break it down for you a bit more.

Hot water therapy is great for:

• Reduces inflammation
• Relieves sore muscles
• Helps with stiff joints
• Helps with tissue damage
• Improves sleep
• Provides stress relief
• Helps with arthritis and fibromyalgia
• Relaxes tight areas of your body

Cold water therapy is great for:

• Relieves muscle pain
• Loosens stiff joints
• Relaxesension in your body
• Reduces inflammation and swelling
• Can briefly numb sore tissue

Do I Want Both?

If you want to improve your overall health and wellness, both the hot tub and ice bath offer therapeutic options. In fact, they are quite complementary. You may find that doing both can really ram up the benefits.

Using both modes of therapy, you may find you feel better every day, can recover from hard workouts, and can decrease joint pain, inflammation, and muscle soreness. Your body may also flush out more toxins when using both therapies. If you have an injury, using both cold and hot therapy can help to reduce swelling and inflammation while also increasing blood flow to the injured area.

Many recommend soaking in hot water first for anywhere from 10-20 minutes. Then, immerse yourself in the cold water for three to five minutes.

Start with shorter intervals as you get used to your hot water and cold water therapy.

And again, please consult your doctor before doing this!