Help For Arthritis Sufferers - Soaking Bathtubs

If you're one of the 46 million arthritis sufferers in the United States alone, you look for relief anywhere you can find it. While hydrotherapy has been recommended for many years to those who suffer from joint or muscle pains, now, arthritis patients can find relief in their own home with the help of soaking bathtubs.

Both the warm water and the weightlessness in water are beneficial to those who suffer from arthritis. The soaking bathtubs reduces the stress on your joints and relaxes the muscles. Additionally, the water helps support the joints and relieve the pain of movement. The warm water will also help extend your range of motion. To make the most of your tub, add sea salts or Epsom salts. Epsom salt, especially, is high in magnesium, which is very important to bone growth and regulating the pH level in the body. By adding approximately 3 cups of Epsom salts to your soaking bath, your body will absorb the magnesium sooth your joints and muscles.

It's a vicious cycle. Because their joints and muscles hurt, arthritis sufferers stop exercising. But they need the exercise to help with the arthritis. Because of the extended range of motion that people with arthritis experience when in soaking bathtubs, doctors are now suggesting that they try exercising while in the tub. Hot baths make it easier to move and the body sweats while in hot water, releasing toxins from the body. If trying this at home, start slowly. While you're never going to be running a marathon in your tub, stretching and yoga type exercises are possible. The temperature of your bath water should be mildly hot, between 100 and 102 degrees.

Exercises for the soaking bathtubs can help the calves, thighs, shoulders, hands and toes. Some of the exercises are done standing while others are done from the comfort of a sitting or even laying back position. These exercises, while not strenuous, can help improve your flexibility and decrease the ongoing symptoms of arthritis. Always check with your family doctor first, before trying any exercises and listen to your body. If you feel light headed, stop and add cooler water to the tub.

There are many models of soaking bathtubs for you to choose from in today's marketplace. The Internet is a great place to start when looking at all the various types and models. Shopping in brick and mortar stores will require that one store carry all the models and that's rare to experience. By doing your pre-shopping on the Internet, you see what types are available and can narrow down your choices. If getting in and of the tub is difficult for you to manage with your arthritis, for example, you may want to consider one of the walk models. Others may prefer something more stylish like a freestanding model or alcove soaking bathtubs. Whatever model you decide upon, you'll never regret the feeling of the hot water as it encompasses your body and relieves the pain, even if just for a short period of time.