Hot Tub Soaking Helps Knee Replacement Patients Heal Faster!

Study Shows Warm-Water Therapy Aids in Recovery Process for Knee Replacement Patients

Although the study isn’t “hot off the press”, so many of our Olympic Hot Tub Company customers have told us about their knee replacement surgeries that I want to make sure everyone knew about this!

Alexandria, VA, January 24, 2007 – A recent study funded by the Hot Tub Council (HTC) of the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) found that patients who undergo total knee replacement surgery and incorporate water exercise into their treatment, as opposed to land exercise alone, have a greater opportunity to return to normal function faster. The warm-water therapy study also found patients to have an improved range of motion and less pain and swelling throughout the recovery process.

The HTC provided a $50,000 grant to the Foundation for Physical Therapy (FPT) to conduct the study. The FPT awarded the grant to Richard McAvoy, a physical therapist in Somersworth, New Hampshire. McAvoy created two experimental groups of 30 people who had undergone unilateral total knee arthroplasties. One group of participants utilized only land-based therapy, while the other group was exposed to both land- and water-based therapy, the latter in a pool heated to 92 degrees Fahrenheit Note: It’s easy to adjust the temperature in a Hot Spring Spa to 92 degrees.) Range of motion, pain, swelling and functional status were measured and the hypothesis proven: warm-water therapy patients do, indeed, recover faster.

Though results from this study were in favor of warm-water therapy for rehabilitation post-knee replacement, there is more research to be done.

So considering knee surgery? Maybe you’ve already scheduled it for later this year. Don’t be like my sister-in-law in Cheyenne who had both knees replaced at the same time and did no water therapy. She was in terrible pain for a year.  You can avoid it and come out stronger using a hot tub!!

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

From: HotTubLiving.com and APSP, the Association of Pool and Spa

Hot Tub Soaking Alleviates Depression

I miss my hot tub!

Yes, it’s there on the roof ready to use. Hot, clean, inviting. Calling to me nightly. But I haven’t been able to use it.

6 weeks ago I had a skin “thing” removed that couldn’t have stitches. Without getting into the gross details, the wound had to scab over in order to heal. Well, it’s right at my waist. Hard to keep a scab from being rubbed off when it’s at your waist.  So, the long and short of it is, I haven’t been able to soak in the hot tub until the scar healed. It’s been a long 6 weeks.

Not being able to use the hot tub has made me depressed! How I have missed my hot tub endorphins-the natural mood elevators that are produced in the brain when you soak.  So hot tub bliss is created in the brain!  I know that the water feels so good on your skin that the effect is blissful. But once you get out of the water, you’re beaming with optimism that just bubbles up when soaking.

Tonight’s the night to go in my Hot Spring Spa again. Can’t wait! A sure cure for the recession? Lets all get in our hot tubs and watch our natural enthusiasm rise to the top. I’m not kidding.

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

Happy Infrared Sauna Buyer Raves About The Benefits

Hello Olympic Hot Tub Company:
I wanted to share with you my experience with the sauna I purchased from you a few months ago:

1. Delivery & set up were great!

The date and time that was scheduled for delivery was very convenient for my schedule. The two that installed my sauna were very friendly and professional.

2. I absolutely love my Finnleo sauna! My husband and I sit in it almost every day. It is such a treat to crawl into in the evenings before I shower and go to bed. Such a luxurious way to end my day! Sometimes I wake up early just so that I can get all warmed up before I get going with my morning routine. On weekends I enjoy sitting in my sauna with a cup of coffee while I read the newspaper.

3. A couple of benefits that I’ve received from using my sauna include clearer skin and muscle relaxation after a workout.

4. I am so pleased with my sauna. We had our new home built with an area designated in the master bath for it. I step in my sauna when I’m chilled or worn out from the day and leave warm and relaxed. I recommend a sauna to everyone I know!

Thanks for everything!
Ericka Boysen :-) Olympia, Washington

Thanks, Ericka, for writing and sharing your story.  Yes, everyone can benefit from a sauna! Winter’s coming and with it flu season. What are you waiting for?  Find out about the many benefits of having a Finnleo sauna in your home today!

The good sweat starts with a Finnleo sauna from Olympic Hot Tub Company.

SilkBalance NATURAL WATER CARE FOR SPAS AND HOT TUBS IS “GREEN ” AND GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT SAYS HAPPY USER

Here’s an email sent Sunday night. It’s so great to open up your email on a Monday morning and find a rave review from a happy customer:
Hi Alice
I am writing to tell you how much I love the new Silk Balance water care product for our hot tub!
We have had our hot tub for 8 years and love it as much as the day we got it…I have been very good at doing water care but it did take a lot of time and effort.
I started using Silk Balance a few months ago and LOVE IT!
My skin feels so soft, the water appears clear, its so easy to use and the bottle it comes in is very cool…
It saves a lot of time, is easy to use, and just feels so good.
Its nice that it is ‘green’- good for the environment.
My husband loves it, too, and comments often on the water quality.
Thanks
Leslie Wener
Issaquah WA 98027
We have a Tiger River Sumatran Spa
Thank you, Leslie, for sharing your experience with SilkBalance.
SANUM PER AQUA.

Latin for Health through Water.

Can Soaking in a Hot Tub Reduce Cellulite?

WE’VE HEARD THAT HOT TUB SOAKING REDUCES CELLULITE -WE HOPE IT’S TRUE!
Regular hot tub soaking may help diminish the appearance of cellulite-the fatty deposits that typically gather on the hips, thighs and buttocks of most women past their 30′s. By improving circulation to areas affected by cellulite, it has been said anecdotally by many Olympic Hot Tub Company Hot Spring Spa owners that the appearance of the unsightly deposits can be lessened. According to a variety of sources, the hydrotherapy that a hot tub provides stimulates the blood vessels increasing circulation. It also tones the body tissue, reduces fluid retention and relieves swelling. All of these benefits combined can result in the reduction of cellulite.  Make sure the jets target the area with cellulite. You may have to squirm around to have a jet hit just right. But, it may be worth it!  Give it a try and let us know how it worked!

That’s a drawing of cellulite marked skin next to a drawing of smooth skin.  Take a soak tonight. You have nothing to lose but your cellulite.

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

Frogs in Your Hot Tub? Proven Ways to Rid Your Hot Tub of Frogs

Frogs in your hot tub? Not every one thinks a frog is a potential prince. If you’re bothered by frogs, who are only seeking water after all, you’ll have to out fox, err, out frog them. First latch the cover every night after you use the tub. If the cover does not have a tight fit, weigh it down around the edges. Then try some of the more popular methods for frog removal by mixing up a solution and spraying around the hot tub area:

1.      Citric acid has been used in the battle against frogs and has proven effective. It is relatively easy to acquire at gardening shops and causes only mild phytotoxic damage to plants. Mix up a 16% solution, which is 1.3 pounds dry citric acid to one gallon of water. Put the solution in a sprayer and spray the frogs directly. Only direct exposure will kill frogs. If you worry about killing your plants, rinse them with water about an hour after spraying the frogs. This will help reduce any possible plant damage.

2.      Saltwater seems to have some affect on frogs much like it does on slugs. The salt burns their moist skin and drives them away. Mix up a solution of saltwater and spray it around the areas where frogs congregate. It will burn their feet when they hop over the sprayed area. A little warning-all this salt will be hard on any plants in the area. They will brown around the edges and eventually flop over dead from dehydration. Consider this before you use salt!

3.      Caffeine has been approved for experimental usage in Hawaii as a pesticide. It is still in the experimental phase as the affects on the ecosystem need to be observed. But early research showed a 2% solution of caffeine killed 100% of the frogs exposed to it. It causes irregularity in their heartbeats (heart attacks). It also killed a bunch of snails, slugs, and lizards in the testing area. A 2% solution is 125 times stronger than cola. You can use leftover coffee, which is about 0.1-0.05% concentration, to deter frogs. This solution will not kill them, but it may drive them off.

4.      Bleach surprisingly has been used to ward of infestations of frogs, too. Use a weak solution to keep the frogs at bay. Mix 1/3 cup bleach to 3 gallons of water or just under 2 tablespoons per gallon. Spray the area around the tub. I would not recommending spraying this onto plants as bleach may damage them.

5. Controlling the variables of frog habitat is crucial in getting rid of frogs. Frogs like dark, moist homes with lots of food nearby. Getting rid of structures where frogs can hide, like wood piles or piles of brush or leaves, helps. If you have a large lawn, consider mowing it regularly and keeping it shorter than a buzz cut. This keeps the mosquitoes and other frog food populations at a lower level. If you can find the location where they are breeding, scoop out the frog eggs every time you see them. Also, hiring some kids to catch the frogs by hand is very effective. Younger kids will do anything for money: Frogs for sale!

In the end, assess your situation and decide for yourself what lengths you are willing to go to and how much you are willing to sacrifice to get rid of frogs. If you only have a couple of frogs, try the hands-on approach, i.e. catch them by hand. It’s easy and saves your plants. If you have more than a few frogs and you just absolutely must get rid of them even though they are crucial to our environment and eat nasty disease-carrying bugs, use the methods described here and you should see success.

SAUNUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

Infrared Sauna Helps Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis

Results of a study on the effects of infrared sauna on rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis patients was published in January in the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology as written by researchers at the Expertise Center Health, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, in The Netherlands.

To study the effects of infrared sauna, a form of total-body hyperthermia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, patients were treated for a 4-week period with a series of eight infrared treatments treatments. Twice weekly, seventeen rheumatoid arthritis patients and 17 ankylosing spondylitis patients were studied. Infrared therapy produced no adverse effects and no increase in either disease was noted.

As reported, pain and stiffness decreased clinically, and improvements were statistically significant (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001 in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis patients, respectively) during an infrared sauna session. Fatigue also decreased. Both RA and AS patients felt comfortable on average during and especially after treatment.  In the RA and AS patients, pain, stiffness, and fatigue also showed clinical improvements during the 4-week treatment period, but these did not reach statistical significance. No increase in disease was found in patients in either group.

In conclusion said the Dutch researchers, infrared treatment has statistically significant short-term beneficial effects and clinically relevant period effects during treatment in RA and AS patients without enhancing disease activity.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis or have a friend or relative who does, why not try sauna therapy on your own? The results are very promising for a decrease in pain and stiffness associated with both diseases. The mental health benefits were not mentioned, but the release of endorphins-the body’s own “feel good” drug surely elevated the mood of the participants. The infrared sauna treatment involves no drugs other than the body’s own. It’s entirely natural!

The good sweat starts with a Finnleo sauna from Olympic Hot Tub Company

New York Times Reports That Regular Sauna Use Stops Colds & Flu

Scientists recently confirmed the age-old notion that hot liquids can relieve some cold and flu symptoms. But what about a dose of heat on a much larger scale – say, in a sauna? The answer is yes according to an article in the New York Times in February.

With temperatures of 176 Fahrenheit or greater, saunas have been recommended for arthritis, asthma and chronic fatigue syndrome, among other things, since they were used by nomads in Finland centuries ago. Some reputed benefits have not been examined, but there is evidence that saunas may speed recovery from colds and reduce their occurrence according to the Times report.

Some researchers suspect sauna heat reduces symptoms because it improves drainage, while others speculate that the high temperatures help weaken cold and flu viruses. Why this might prevent sickness in the first place, however, is unclear. But research suggests an effect.

Nobel‐Prize winner Dr. Andre Lwoff, a French virologist and microbiologist shared the 1965 prize in physiology and medicine for just such a theory. He reported that high temperatures during infection help combat the growth of a virus. High temperatures can be induced artificially and cause heavy sweating. He believes that high temperature during infection helps combat the growth of virus. “Therefore, fever should not be brought down with drugs,” he said.

In one study by Austrian researchers, a group of 50 adults were tracked for 6 months. One group was told to use a sauna regularly; the other group was told not to use a sauna. At the end of the study, the sauna bathing group had contracted half the number of colds than the non-sauna bathers. This is great news. It’s simple, natural, non-invasive and requires no drugs! This is strong evidence that sauna use might reduce or prevent cold symptoms all together and strengthen the immune system. Sauna bathing is good for your health in many other ways. Once you realize the many things a sauna can do for you, you’ll want one. Try a sauna today. Are you willing to give up ever having a nasty winter cold or the flu again?

The good sweat starts with a Finnleo Sauna from Olympic Hot Tub Company.


Do You Suffer from SAD?-Seasonal Affective Disorder? A Sauna with Therapy Lights Can Help!

If you’re afflicted by SAD, change the way you feel with a Finnleo Infrared Sauna with therapy lights. Mood altering & proven effective when used regularly during the winter months.

BLUE is a cool color that has a calming effect. It is helpful in treating sleep disorders and headaches. It helps in all kinds of cramps and can have an anti-bacterial effect.

RED

is the symbol of love and of life itself; with its penetration power; which is the highest of all colors; it is recommended for treatment of impeded circulation. It generates enthusiasm, arouses passion.

GREEN is a cooling, sedating color, which helps reduce swelling of joints and tissues; it calms the body and helps reduce inflammation. It’s the color of the relaxed heart.

If you’d like more information on using color therapy for treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder contact Olympic Hot Tub Company. We have far more information than we can post in a blog on the benefits of using color therapy in a far infrared sauna.

Psychological and therapeutic effects of Colors has been provided with permission by Healthstart Life Products, Australia.

NOTICE: We have provided the information here for reference purposes only and to stimulate further investigation.  No implication of  an infrared sauna’s creating a cure for or treating any disease is implied nor should it be inferred.  If you have a health issue always consult your doctor for medical advice.

THE GOOD SWEAT starts with a Finnleo Sauna from Olympic Hot Tub Company.


A Medical Doctor and Environmental Specialist Speaks Out on Infrared Sauna Benefits for Health

Excerpts from her latest book

“DETOXIFY OR DIE”

-  by DR. SHERRY A. ROGERS, M.D., ABEM

A Canadian friend of mine went to the big PNE (Pacific National Exhibition-like a big state fair) in Vancouver last weekend and found this flyer which he shared with me. It was so interesting, I thought I’d share it with blog readers during this seven day series of blogs on saunas.

” What is the best way to get rid of toxic chemicals including pesticides, heavy metals and hydrocarbon residues when you cannot tolerate a sauna? When a sauna makes you feel weak, sick, have a fast heart rate, faint, dizzy, panicky, headachey or just plain miserable, what is the solution?  The far infrared sauna.  Thanks to improved technology, the far infrared sauna is far safer and infinitely more tolerable, because it uses a heat energy that penetrates tissues, triggering mobilization of chemicals from subcutaneous fat storage, directly into the sweat. This activating penetration allows for a much lower overall temperature to be used, one that is enjoyable and not torture.

Over weeks and months there is an equilibrium, as chemicals that are stored in other organs slowly and safely disseminate throughout the body and eventually empty into your subcutaneous fat.  It is the chemical load that is stored beneath the skin that is the main area activated by the far infrared sauna.

The far infrared sauna causes profuse sweating which will release a lifetime of toxins from the body storage! When you realize the lifelong incapacity and expense of diseases such as chronic pain syndromes, heart disease, chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, migraines, Alzheimer’s, cancer or any others caused by chemical toxicity, a sauna is cheap.  Let’s face it: high tech pollution requires high tech solutions.

Once you have it, it’s yours to use forever, for the world will never run out of ways to poison us.  The whole family can use it.   It is not only capable of providing the primary “cure” or solution for your current medical problem, but can free you from symptom producing medications.   Since we’re continually being bombarded by new chemicals every day, it is a tool to keep you “cleaned out” for life. It is a win – win situation.

How can we bring aging and illness to a screeching halt?   Sweat out the poisons is the answer……..Poisons such as; mercury from dental amalgams, fish and paints; cadmium from auto exhaust, cigarette smoke (including second-hand from others), shellfish, incinerator pollution, and industrial pollution in air, food and water.  You cannot escape heavy metals or other environmental pollutants.   Also, there are herbicides and pesticides, which are hidden in our air, food and water.   No one is protected.    We are also all susceptible to hydrocarbons and other environmental pollutants or toxins, from trichloroethylene in city water supplies, solvent extraction fluids used to decaffeinate coffee, toluene in painted rooms, formaldehyde in carpets, and benzene in air fresheners, to good old diesel and other common pollutants in our vehicles.

Far infrared wavelengths have other beneficial properties. They lower lactic acid (the acid that accumulates and causes pain in muscles when you have overdone it during exercising), stimulate endorphins or happy hormones of the brain, and kill organisms like bacteria and parasites.   More important, they penetrate tissues, detoxify cells by vibrating ionic bonds, stop swelling, improve lymphatic flow and blood circulation, and attract calcium to cell membranes where it is needed for healing.

Sweating is a God-given mechanism, but it must be done properly and safely to be successful. The far infrared sauna is something that you will use for a lifetime. It is a major tool not only in your detox program but also in your anti-aging program  The far infrared sauna technology is the only proven, most efficacious way of getting rid of stored environmental chemicals.   This makes it a household necessity.”

THE GOOD SWEAT begins with a Finnleo sauna from Olympic Hot Tub Company.