Arthritis Pain Relief in Your Swim Spa

By Rick McAvoy
PoolAndSpa.com News Contributor

Arthritis Pain Relief in Your Swim Spa

Not Just Your Grandma’s Arthritis – Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. There’s a 50-50 chance that at some point in your life, you are going to develop osteoarthritis. I would not buy a lottery ticket with those odds!

In OA the strong, flexible substance that cushions your joints called cartilage begins to break down, leading to symptoms such as pain, stiffness, swelling particularly in the joints of the knee, hip, spine, hands and feet. Even though the cause of OA is unknown, age, gender, excess body weight, previous joint injury, occupation and genetics are all contributing factors.

Over the past decade knee replacement surgeries have tripled in the 45-to-64 age group because of OA.

One of the most effective ways to treat OA is to exercise. Your swim spa is one of the most comfortable and effective places a person with arthritis can exercise.

Here’s why:

Water significantly reduces the impact on your joints making it much easier to move.

Water allows improved joint flexibility, which will improve range of motion and general mobility.

Water provides up to 12-15 times the resistance of air, allowing you to really strengthen your muscles and bones.

Your swim spas warm water and jets will aide in reducing any pain associated with OA.

Your spas current or jetted system can assist to improve cardiovascular fitness, calorie burning and weight loss.

The water 3 dimensional surrounding properties can help improve your balance, coordination and walking mechanics which then can transfer to land.

Your swim spa obviously provides significant benefits from a low impact standpoint. However, it is also a great place to get a high intensity workout.

A recent study with patients who suffered from OA and participated in a 6 week high intensity aquatic workout reduced joint pain and improved balance, function, and their overall mobility

Your swim spa can help to significantly alleviate and improve the symptoms associated with Osteoarthritis.

It is not necessarily the Fountain of Youth, but it’s pretty close.

Dr. Rick McAvoy, PT, DPT, CSCS has specialized in Aquatic Physical Therapy, Fitness and Sports Performance for over 25 years. Rick is the Owner of Swim Spa Exercise, a virtual training company to help people maximize the use of their swim spas. He wants everyone to Move Better and Live Better.

For more information of how to maximize the use of your Swim Spa and how to Move Better and Live Better visit our website: