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You’ve heard about the benefits of a hot tub soak, and you probably know a cold plunge is good for you, too. But did you know that when combined, you get double the benefits?

In this article, we discover the benefits of the therapeutic duo: the hot tub and cold plunge combination: the Duo Plunge.

For hundreds of years, we’ve understood the benefits of hot and cold therapy for both our mental and physical health. Yet, it’s just been recently that we’ve realized you can supercharge the therapeutic benefits by combining the two.

The benefits are wide-ranging. You can reduce inflammation, increase circulation, recover faster from exercise and injury, sleep better, de-stress, and so much more.

We encourage you to think about adding this powerful duo to your daily wellness routine. Your mental and physical health will reap the benefits.

How the Duo Promotes Healing

With both a cold and hot water soak, you can promote healing and reduce pain and inflammation. Here are some of the ways this duo works to help you:

• Your muscles recover faster from a workout. This means less soreness and stiffness.
• You improve your circulation.
• Pain and inflammation are lessened.
• You enjoy better relaxation and reduced stress.
• Injuries may heal faster.
• Your joint health and mobility improve.
• Overall health improves.

When you use the cold plunge/hot tub combo, you create a vast temperature difference. Your blood vessels constrict and dilate to accommodate the change from heat to cold and vice versa.

The result is better blood flow and oxygenation. This also allows your muscles to relax and your whole body to experience a deep sense of calm and relaxation.

Not only do you physically feel better, but you are mentally refreshed as well.

Combining the two as part of your daily ritual will improve your overall health and wellness.

The Dual Plunge is the best of both worlds: one side is cold, and the other is hot, like a hot tub.

Increased Circulation is Good for You

When you use the hot tub plunge duo combination, you will increase your circulation. As the hot temperature dilates your blood vessels, this enhances your circulation. Because of this, your tissues get essential nutrients and oxygen, and toxins are eliminated.

As your circulation increases, you may experience less joint inflammation and lower blood pressure. This can be highly beneficial for people as they age, in addition to athletes, or people who just want to feel bette.

*Do speak with your physician before embarking on the hot/cold combo to be sure it’s safe for you and any medical conditions you may have.

Pain Management is Another Benefit

With more than 20% of Americans experiencing chronic pain such as arthritis, injury, back and neck pain, sports injuries, and more, there are some non-medical ways to treat it. One of those is the hot/cold duo.

Using both types of water therapy, you can find relief from inflammation, which is one of the markers of chronic pain. This water therapy reduces swelling, and that, in turn, relieves pain.

By alternating your exposure to cold and hot, you increase blood flow and oxygen delivery to the areas where you have inflammation. The cold plunge temporarily restricts blood flow, but it is also an anti-inflammatory tool to reduce tissue damage after a workout or even surgery.

When you use hot and cold therapy together, your joints become more mobile, and you have less soreness and chronic pain.

This greatly improves your overall well-being.

Contrast Therapy Works for People Who Exercise

Athletes and weekend fitness warriors can also benefit from something called contrast therapy, which involves alternating hot and cold exposure.

According to WebMD, contrast therapy involves soaking in warm and cold water in one session. This may help improve blood circulation throughout your body. WebMD also says, it can help treat:

• Edema
• Stiff joints
• inflammation of soft tissues
• Muscle spasms
• Painful limbs (upper and lower)
• Muscle damage
• Aches and pains

Contrast therapy is popular among athletes, both novice and professional. It may mean the difference between getting up the next day and working out or not being able to move well after a vigorous workout.

There are Mental Health Benefits, Too

Contrast hydrotherapy also has mental health benefits as it can also treat stress and promote overall mental health.

Again, as you move from hot to cold, you increase your blood circulation. This releases endorphins, the feel-good hormones. You may feel a rush that helps fight stress and anxiety.

What’s more, when you jump into the cold plunge after soaking in the hot water, you reproduce the effect of a vigorous workout. Your cortisol levels drop, which helps you relax.

Ultimately, with a doctor’s permission, you may find that contrast hydrotherapy helps manage depression and anxiety.

People With Chronic Conditions Benefit

If you have a condition like arthritis or fibromyalgia, our dual plunge can also provide you with relief. Using hot water massage has long been an industry standard for treating joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation.

As your blood flow increases, swelling reduces, and it promotes healing.

On the other hand, when you use the cold side of the dual plunge, you also reap the benefits of a reduction in inflammation. The cold decreases nerve activity in your most painful areas. As the cold restricts your blood vessels, your pain may subside.

By alternating cold and hot therapy, you enjoy many physical benefits for chronic conditions.

Final Thoughts on the Therapeutic Duo

There are so many benefits of using hot and cold water therapy, such as increased blood flow, fewer aches and pains, reduced inflammation, less stress, and a better mood.

Finally, we have a few suggestions on how to use this system for the most mental and physical benefits:

• Consistency is important. Try to begin with at least three days per week for the best results. Once it becomes a habit, you can add on more days.
• When you begin soaking, soak in the warm side first for about 10 minutes. Then, transition to the cold plunge side for about two minutes. Then, return to the hot tub side for another 10 minutes. You can increase as is comfortable and recommended by your doctor.

If you’re ready to learn more, our expert team is ready to show you the dual plunge in person so you can see it first hand. Stop by soon!