Therapeutic swimming pools

If you are seeking a therapeutic swimming pool, otherwise known as a hydrotherapy pool or a swim spa, this article is for you. Swim spas, as they are more commonly referred to, have become increasingly popular for those seeking rehabilitation and other health benefits. And with good reason, aquatic exercise is excellent for your body, without putting added pressure and stress on your joints. Therapeutic swimming pools also have the added bonus of hydrotherapy, which has distinct benefits of its own.

This article will explore the world of therapeutic swimming pools and how you can heal your body and improve your health with water exercise and hydrotherapy. As you read on, you will also learn about the unique swim spa offerings from Sundance® Spas.

What is a therapeutic swimming pool?

Generally speaking, a therapeutic swimming pool is a specialized heated pool used for rehabilitation, pain management, and low-impact exercise. Swim spas take this type of pool one step further by featuring the added benefits of hydrotherapy. Swim spas combine the best of all worlds—fun, fitness, and soothing hydromassage.

For those seeking healing with water exercise, aquatic rehabilitation in your swim spa can be an effective method. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Aquatic therapy differs from land therapy because of the specific properties of water. These unique properties decrease joint compression forces, may reduce inflammation and provide feedback for improving posture. The resistance of the water during therapy provides a safe environment for addressing balance, strength and postural deficits. For those who may have difficulty exercising on land, aquatic therapy provides a comfortable and therapeutic medium in which to gain strength and endurance.”

Rehabilitation in a swim spa

The Mayo Clinic Health System supports this, adding “water workouts can give you gains similar to those on land, including aerobic fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and better balance.” An article on the organization’s website states that healthcare providers often recommend aquatic exercise because “water’s buoyancy supports your weight. When you’re submersed up to your neck, the water cancels out about 90% of your body weight, significantly reducing stress on your weight-bearing joints, bones and muscles.”

Further benefits may include reduced risk of injury, increased circulation, reduced swelling of injuries, strengthened muscles due to water resistance, and improved cardiovascular health, according to the article.

This type of therapy is good for those with orthopaedic disorders, arthritis, back pain, and chronic pain, as well as those seeking post-surgery rehabilitation, if approved by their doctors.

Swim spa health benefits

In addition to the aforementioned benefits, the Mayo Clinic states, “Water workouts can help you reach your fitness goals without pain or injury. They can add cross-training variety to your existing exercise routine or offer a safe and fun way to start an exercise program.

Swim spas are unique in that they offer a dedicated space for consistent lap swimming without the need to do flip turns. Depending on the brand and model, the swim spa may even create an environment to help you stay afloat, centered, and challenged by your swim.

Swimming, after all, features its own set of health benefits. According to the Harvard Medical School Harvard Health Publishing website, lap swimming is “easy on the joints, thanks to buoyancy in water, and it has a meditative quality that forces you to focus on your movement and breathing.” Beyond that, the article lists the following benefits of lap swimming:

• Improves endurance and cardiovascular health

• Helps lower blood pressure

• Increases flexibility

• Helps you control your weight

• Boosts your balance

• Reduces fall risk

• Helps sharpen thinking

• Helps reduce stress

Jetted hydrotherapy benefits

One of the incredible benefits that sets swim spas apart from other therapeutic swimming pools is hydrotherapy. Jetted hydrotherapy is synonymous with hot tubs—the warm, bubbly water and pressurized jets that target and massage specific areas of your body as you soak.

The Cleveland Clinic states that hydrotherapy can be used to help improve symptoms such as pain, stiffness, swelling, and muscle pain, and that is can be “a good supplement to physical therapy as you recover from an injury or surgery.”

Some swim spas feature jetted seating (open, lounge, or a combination of both) in the same area as the swimming area, while others, often referred to as dual-zone swim spas, have a completely separate area for hydrotherapy that also operates from completely separate equipment.

Sundance® swim spas, for example, feature Fluidix® jet technology that is engineered to deliver the best hydromassage right where you need it. Furthermore, Sundance® swim spas include the Fluidix® PT™ Jet, which delivers the focused power of percussive therapy with 360-degree rotation. Replicating the deep, targeted relief of a massage gun, the Fluidix® PT jet zeroes in on key back muscles for a completely personalized massage.

Percussive therapy delivers percussive streams of water that rapidly alternate for an invigorating, adjustable deep-tissue massage. This is ideal for those seeking recuperation after healing with water exercise.

Sundance® swim spas models

Sundance® swim spas are defined by unparalleled massage, on every swim spa seat and dual lounge, best-in-class water filtration with the brand’s distinctive horizontal MicroClean® Ultra Filtration System and active oxygen water treatment, and control from anywhere with exclusive SmartTub® technology. Sundance® features two swim spa series—the Surf™ Series and the Stream™ Series.

Sundance® Spas Surf™ Series

The Surf™ Series features an extra-wide swim lane powered by two dedicated high-performance swim pumps, a 10-speed swim selector, which controls the strength of the current for a completely customizable swim for experienced swimmers and the whole family alike.

Surf™ 17 specs:

Dimensions1: 7’8”x17’5”x4’5”

Usable swim length: 168”

Swim power: 10 hp

Total jets: 48 massage and 8 swim

Filtration system: MicroClean® Ultra

Electrical2: 240VAC 60Hz 50A (US and Canada)

Surf™ 17 features:

• Swim Selector Control

• 2 Dedicated Swim Pumps

• 2 Wide-Stream Surf™ Swim Jets

• 2 Lane-Extender Jets

• 2 Buoyancy Jets

• 2 Lane-Balancing Jets

• Stainless Steel Swim Bar

• Patented Fluidix® Jets and 6 Massage Varieties

• Dual Full-Body Lounges with Swedish Massage

• Accu-Ssage™ Therapy Seat

• Percussive Therapy Seat

• Illuminated Waterfall

• Touch Control with Color Screen

Sundance® Spas Stream™ Series

The Stream™ Series offers dual Swedish hydromassage lounges, two shallow seats that are ideal for the kids, and the powerful Fluidix® hydromassage. The jets in this series provide a smooth current that meets everyone’s needs without overpowering anyone.

A perfect mix of relaxation, swimming, and family fun, this series features two distinct models, the spacious Stream™ 17 and the compact Stream™ 13. These models also feature a sturdy stainless steel swim bar above the swim jets that serves as the perfect place to hold on—for kids learning to swim and adults perfecting their form.

Stream™ 17 specs:

Dimensions1: 7’8”x17’5"x4’5”

Usable swim length: 168”

Swim power: 4 hp

Total jets: 48 massage and 2 swim

Filtration system: MicroClean® Ultra

Electrical2: 240VAC 60Hz 50A (US and Canada)

Stream™ 17 features:

• 1 Dedicated Swim Pump

• 2 Stream™ Swim Jets

• Stainless Steel Swim Bar

• Patented Fluidix® Jets and 6 Massage Varieties

• Dual Full-Body Lounges with Swedish Massage

• Accu-Ssage™ Therapy Seat

• Percussive Therapy Seat

• PT™ and FocusRelief® Jets

• Illuminated Waterfall

• Touch Control with Color Screen

Stream™ 13 specs:

Dimensions1: 7’8”x12’5”x4’2”

Usable swim length: 112”

Swim power: 4 hp

Total jets: 48 massage and 2 swim

Filtration system: MicroClean® Ultra

Electrical2: 240VAC 60Hz 50A (US and Canada)

Stream™ 13 features:

• 1 Dedicated Swim Pump

• 2 Stream™ Swim Jets

• Stainless Steel Swim Bar

• Patented Fluidix® Jets and 6 Massage Varieties

• Dual Full-Body Lounges with Swedish Massage

• Accu-Ssage™ Therapy Seat

• Percussive Therapy Seat

• PT™ and FocusRelief® Jets

• Illuminated Waterfall

• Touch Control with Color Screen

How Sundance® Spas can help you heal with water exercise

If you’re seeking healing with water exercise, Sundance® swim spas are uniquely equipped for helping you do so. Thanks to its high-performance systems and hydrotherapy, you can enjoy a healing swim that is as good for rehabilitation as it is for fitness, and then enjoy an unparalleled hydromassage to help you recuperate, recover, and rejuvenate your body for your next workout or aquatic therapy session.

When you are ready to dive into the world of therapeutic swimming pools, start with Sundance® Swim Spas. Visit an authorized Sundance® swim spa dealer in your area to learn more and to experience the difference for yourself through a wet test. This way, you can try out the model you like while it is filled and operating, giving you a real feel for the swim spa experience.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Therapeutic swimming pools: Healing with water exercise

Q: What is a therapeutic swimming pool?

A: A therapeutic swimming pool is a specialized heated pool used for rehabilitation, pain management, and low-impact exercise.

Q: What is a swim spa?

A: A swim spa is a unit that combines fun, fitness, and relaxation, with an area to swim turn-free laps, plus hydrotherapy with jetted seats.

Q: How can Sundance® swim spas help you heal?

A: Not only can you enjoy water exercise that is easy on the joints and often recommended for rehabilitation, you can also experience high-level hydrotherapy enhanced by incredible features such as the exclusive Sundance® Fluidix® PT™ Jet, which delivers the focused power of percussive therapy with 360-degree rotation.

1Specifications may vary by country, please check with your local retailer. All specifications are subject to change without notice.

2Not all electrical configurations are listed. Please see the Sundance® Spas Hot Tub or Swim Spa Specification Handbook for additional details.

Disclaimer: Sundance Spas® is a registered trademark of its respective owner. All rights reserved.

Medical Disclaimer: We are not medical professionals. This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with questions regarding any medical condition.

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