One Thing You Shouldn't Do Before Getting In A Hot Tub
The hot tub is an appealing, year-round outdoor leisure activity and it doesn't matter if it's 100 or 25 degrees out, if it's snowing or the sun is shining, chance are, if there's a hot tub available, you are getting in it. According to WebMD, enjoying a soak in a hot tub is a good way to wind down and reduce stress.
Another benefit was found in a study published in the Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, which showed that soaking in a hot tub (or bath) supported significantly better sleep among older individuals. A separate smaller study showed improved sleep in women with fibromyalgia (via Healthline).
It's noteworthy to mention that, believe it or not, there are some risks to hanging out in a hot tub. WebMD shares that hot tubs can hold a lot of bacteria if they are not cleaned properly, and these bacteria can cause small skin infections and swimmer's ear, or more serious conditions such as diarrhea and pneumonia.
Once you've made sure that the hot tub you're frequenting is sanitarily acceptable, by all means, enjoy the soaking, except after this one activity.
Avoid the hot tub after a grueling workout
After an intense sweat sesh, it's best to avoid a soak in the hot tub. You might think that's crazy, since hot tub soaking can relieve tight muscles, and decrease aches and pains, but this is not the case. Healthline shares that soaking in a hot tub before a workout is better, as it can loosen the muscles up and reduce the risk of injury.
According to athletic trainer and injury-prevention expert Liz Letchford, MS, ATC, a hot tub soak post workout is not as great as you may think for muscle recovery. She tells POPSUGAR. that "Being in a warm environment or otherwise applying heat to your body after exercise can decrease your body's ability to attain parasympathetic activation in order to recover effectively."
According to the Jacuzzi company, which has been in business for over 60 years, it is not advised to get in a hot tub immediately after a workout. Olympian Jo Pavey agrees, sharing with Runner's World that ""Hot baths, on the other hand, promote blood flow to the muscles by dilating blood vessels — this is not what you want immediately after exercise."
Pavey advises waiting a day or two before soaking in a hot tub because when acute pain from the workout has subsided, the hot tub can promote more circulation, which supports healing.