NEW Hot Water Immersion Studies
Exciting new studies conducted by the NSPF (National Swimming & Pool Foundation) are revealing even more benefits of hot water immersion.
The head of the study, Dr. Becker, is fascinated by the mental as well as physical benefits of immersion. “Water exercise rivals meditation,” he said. “You feel good, better than you do with other exercise. I want to find out what that ‘aaah’ is about.” Becker first became excited about aquatic rehabilitation when he worked in Eugene, Oregon, and saw how much it helped injured Olympic runners. But he was dismayed that there had been little research into its effects since before astronauts were sent into space. “Immersion is as close to weightlessness as there is on Earth,” he said.
"While there is a great deal of work underway on the Hot Tub Immersion study and other NSPF sponsored research, some of the findings show that warm-water immersion seems to have a significant effect on the autonomic nervous system. That effect seems to enhance the balance between parasympathetic (relaxation) and sympathetic components of the system. This is likely one of the major changes that create the “ahhh” when we feel the warm water effects of the spa. These changes were consistent across all subjects tested. Dr. Becker feels that it is very likely that that these nervous system effects have positive health-related implications. “To be able to obtain such a profound relaxation effect so quickly and so consistently was quite amazing to our research group.”
Download 2007 Immersion Study Update (pdf)
Another research group with similar goals was established at Washington State University. Judy Mitchell, the dean of the College of Education, said that creation of the institute will build upon WSU’s reputation for world-class research. “This research is driven by the need to know more about the effects of aquatic exercise not only on general health and well being, but on specific medical conditions such as asthma, hypertension, osteoporosis, and obesity,” Mitchell noted.
“We need medical professionals to understand and use the benefits of aquatic exercise. The public needs to know also because you can safely do it on your own,” she said.