Get to Know the Therapeutic Benefits of a Warm Water Pool

Warm Water Pools Are About More Than Just Relaxing – Some of the Benefits Include Decreased Pain, Increased Range of Motion, and More

Warm water pools are becoming popular tools for anyone who needs a convenient, relaxing, comfortable way to heal, recover, and recharge.

Found in gyms, therapeutic rehab clinics, and other locations, warm water pools are a cross between a hot tub and a lap pool, big enough to get in and exercise or move around and warm enough to be comfortable.

The Nelson Wellness Center at Grand Arbor has a warm water pool that is heated to a pleasant 88 degrees to 89 degrees, which makes for an enjoyable location for exercising and an ideal environment for relieving pain and stiffness.

Are you interested in learning more about the Nelson Wellness Center’s warm water pool and its benefits? This blog will explain them in detail. Read on to the end to learn more about the aquatic fitness classes offered and how you can sign up.

What Is a Warm Water Pool?

A warm water pool is a mid-size swimming pool that is kept at an inviting temperature – usually between 86 degrees and 90 degrees – and is dedicated to therapeutic uses. Most warm water pools are about 4 feet deep, allowing adults to easily submerge into the water but remain standing. Many are 25 yards long – or the length of a standard competition pool – but are three to four lanes wide.

Warm water pools can be found in many health centers and rehab facilities, including the Nelson Wellness Center at Grand Arbor.

What Is Warm Water Therapy?

Warm water therapy is a physical therapy that helps people of all ages and abilities treat and overcome potentially limiting physical conditions. These conditions may include decreased mobility, decreased strength, tender joints, sore muscles, and more. The gentle resistance pressure of the water creates an ideal medium for healthy exercise that strengthens joints and muscles while also improving mobility, balance, and more. Low impact exercise is particularly important as we age since it promotes circulation, balance, and strength without creating situations that could lead to impact or overuse injuries. For individuals needing physical therapy, the Outpatient Therapy team at Grand Arbor frequently utilizes aquatic therapy as part of their treatment recommendations.

How do Warm Water Pools Promote Good Health?

Warm water pools promote good health by combining the exercise and therapeutic benefits of a swimming pool with the warmth and relaxation of a hot tub. Since they are warm, users will feel no hesitation getting into the water and not suffer the effects of or discomfort from the cold, as most competition pools are only heated to about 75 degrees to 78 degrees.

Warm water pools are ideal for swim lessons, open lap swimming, low-intensity water exercise classes, and many therapeutic benefits aimed at restoring health, increasing range of motion, easing sore and stiff muscles, and maintaining health and fitness.

Health Benefits of Warm Water Pools

There are many benefits to using warm water pools, some of which are described here:

Buoyancy: The natural buoyancy of water means that exercises that might stress joints on land are much less troublesome here. Buoyancy means individuals in pools can experience less compression on their joints than on land, and also enjoy the benefits of an increase in agility as the body moves against the gentle pressure of water.

Hydrostatic pressure: Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by water due to the force of gravity. Hydrostatic pressure generally increases the farther under the surface of the water you move. Hydrostatic pressure can help decrease pain and edema, which in turn can increase a person’s range of motion. It can also increase venous return and circulation, which is good for the heart, and can decrease the pooling of blood that can occur in the extremities. All of this combines to decrease pain, promote the relaxation of the muscles, and increase the body’s range of motion.

Viscosity: The viscosity of water is a term used to describe the resistance of water. The viscosity of water allows for the creation of resistance in hydrotherapy exercises performed in warm water pools. This means that you can exercise without overloading muscles or stressing your joints. Moving through the water as a form of exercise is not too dissimilar from exercising with a light weight in your hands or attached to your ankles, except because of water’s even distribution across your body, this pressure is felt equally on all muscles and does not stress joints. The end result is improved muscle tone and the opportunity for progressive strength and balance training.

About the Nelson Wellness Center

The Nelson Wellness Center is located at 4403 Pioneer Road SE in Alexandria, Minnesota, within the Grand Arbor campus, and has one of the region’s best warm water pools. This pool is available to all wellness center members, residents of Grand Arbor, and employees of Knute Nelson. Anyone 45+ is eligible for a membership and can enjoy our many amenities including the warm water pool. Learn more about a Nelson Wellness Center membership. 

Classes at the pool include Aqua Fit, Total Knee and Hip, Aqua Yoga, HydroRider, Deep Water Exercises, Whole Body Conditioning, and others. To learn more about the Nelson Wellness Center’s warm water pool and its many benefits, contact the wellness team today by calling (320) 335-6635 or fill out an online form.