Getting the Most Out of a Therapy Pool For Home
Unlike a hot tub, a therapy pool can be used for both relaxation and exercise. It can also be used with specialised water jets to provide hydrotherapy treatment and help improve flexibility.
While aquatic therapy sessions are beneficial, facility hours and limitations can be restrictive. Having your own home hydrotherapy pool allows you to exercise regularly and recover faster.
Benefits
Having a therapy pool for home means you can get the benefits of aquatic exercise without having to pack up your gym clothes and drive to your gym or rehabilitation centre. That saves time and reduces stress. The fact that you can exercise at your own leisure also reduces the risk of missing out on important sessions.
It’s usually families of people living with disabilities or long-term conditions who invest in a residential hydrotherapy pool. They will often want to add extra features such as lounge areas, which can allow other family members to relax while one person exercises in the water, or water cannons and against-the-current units, which provide more fun and varied workouts.
The main benefit of hydrotherapy pools is that they allow for safe, low-impact exercise that can improve flexibility and strength without placing too much strain on joints and muscles. The buoyancy of the water reduces the force on muscles and joints, so it is ideal for older people, those with mobility problems, special needs children and adults, or anyone who is prone to arthritis or joint pain.
Exercise in warm water increases circulation, which can help to boost immunity and fight disease. It is also a very effective way to reduce the feeling of pain or discomfort in soft tissues, as the warmth and pressure of the water compresses the body, helping to relieve inflammation.
Installation
A home therapy pool offers the convenience of at-home hydrotherapy without having to travel or schedule time to exercise at a public facility. These pools are often smaller than a typical swimming pool and offer specialized features like jets or resistance currents to help you move better, with less pain and discomfort.
Many factors go into determining the best pool size for hydrotherapy, but most often it comes down to the space and needs of each household user. If you therapy pool for home plan to include a lounge area for able-bodied family members who want to relax, then it’s a good idea to opt for a larger pool. You could also choose to add a full set of steps into the pool, or if you know you’ll need to be hoisted into and out of the water, then a more compact design might be easier for your family to manage.
When you work with Guncast’s design engineers, we can provide layout recommendations, CAD drawings and technical information for each installation to help your family find the ideal fit. We can also advise on the best hydrotherapy home equipment for your pool.
Our SwimEx 1000 T aquatic therapy pool offers extreme functionality in a compact space. It is used therapy pool for home by professional and collegiate sports teams to develop progressive strength training and rehabilitation programs, as well as for acute injury protocols. Featuring a 99-speed water current, an angled plyo pad for aquatic running, a deep wells and stairs, this pool is the perfect choice for home-based hydrotherapy.
Safety
The benefits of hydrotherapy in a backyard pool are undeniable, but home owners need to take steps to protect themselves and others. A layered approach to safety is critical, with a pool fence at the top of the list along with door alarms and self-closing, self-latching gates. Adding a shepherd’s hook and life-ring to the fence can also help prevent accidental drowning.
A therapy pool offers a warm, comfortable environment that is ideal for exercise and rehabilitation. The water temperature is usually set higher than a recreational pool and helps create a healing and relaxing atmosphere. Additionally, the density of water increases resistance during exercises, helping build and tone muscles while providing a gentle workout for those with limited mobility.
Hydrotherapy pools are a great way to relieve pain and discomfort from many ailments, but it’s important to follow the rules of the pool to avoid injury. Children should never use the pool without supervision, breakable objects must be removed from the area and users must enter and exit the water slowly. It is also a good idea to learn CPR, in case of an emergency.
Spas and therapy pools have a reputation for being relaxing environments, which can lead some people to believe that they are safe places to drink alcohol. This is a dangerous mistake, as drinking alcohol while submerged in hot water can speed up or intensify heat exhaustion, increasing the risk of drowning.
Maintenance
Whether used for exercise, rehabilitation or relaxation, hydrotherapy pools offer a safe and comfortable way to stay active. Aside from the convenience of having a therapeutic pool right in your own backyard, aquatic therapy also helps you rehabilitate injuries and reduce pain. But in order to get the most out of your home aquatic therapy, you need to follow certain maintenance procedures.
First, you should always have a safe and secure pool cover. These covers keep water out of the pool when it’s not in use and help prevent accidents and drowning. They’re also available in many different sizes and configurations to fit your unique pool.
Another important part of maintaining your therapeutic pool is keeping it clean. This includes regularly cleaning the inside of the pool and filtering the water. You should also make sure to test your pool filtration and chemical levels frequently.
Finally, you should always use proper exercise and safety equipment. If you’re having trouble finding the right pool equipment for your needs, ask a specialist to come out and visit. They’ll take measurements, discuss your needs and provide a free estimate.
One key benefit of designing hydrotherapy pools for domestic use is that you can work with smaller building regulations. This gives you more flexibility in terms of design and allows you to focus on the accessibility requirements for your family members instead of generic guidelines.