Discover whirlpool’s secret to the ultimate massage

One of the main benefits of a whirlpool bath is the ability for each and every bather to enjoy a tailored hydrotherapy experience.

This customised style of massage, which utilises microjets to direct streams of water to the back, neck, and feet, for example, has a multitude of health and wellbeing advantages. From improving circulation to alleviating aches and pains.

But how does a whirlpool work? How does it scientifically target muscular zones, using only water to ease and relieve?

In this latest blog post, we take a deep dive into the secret science of whirlpool baths…

What is targeted Zone Therapy^®?

Zone Therapy^® – a concept trademarked by American Whirlpool – was designed in conjunction with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists.

It’s based on placing the correct jet with the correct size and pressure to precisely target key pain trigger points in the body.

These pain trigger points are located in the soft tissue and muscles and are the chief natural cause of myofacial pain syndrome (long term pain) in these areas.

What causes muscular pain?

The part of the muscle fibre in your body that does the contracting when you move is a microscopic unit called a ‘sarcomere’. It takes millions of sarcomeres to contract in your muscles to make even the slightest movement.

A ‘trigger point’ exists when over stimulated sarcomeres are chemically prevented from releasing from their interlocked state.

Normally, when a muscle is working, its sarcomeres act like tiny pumps, contracting and relaxing to circulate blood through the capillaries that supply their metabolic needs.

When sarcomeres in a trigger point hold their contraction, blood flow essentially stops in the immediate area. The resulting oxygen starvation and accumulation of the waste products of metabolism irritates the trigger point.

The trigger point then responds to this ‘emergency’ by sending out pain signals.

How can pain be alleviated?

For treatment of long term pain, the trigger points must be identified, and then massage, mechanical vibration, pulsed ultrasound, or other methods of pressure may be administered to stimulate blood flow. Hydrotherapy included.

Whether it’s neck, shoulder, back, lumber, gluteal, or foot pain that’s being experienced, the jets of a whirlpool bath can help. And that’s scientifically proven. If you’re grappling with any of the below, here are some of the ways whirlpools can assist…

I experience neck pain, how can a whirlpool bath help?

In the neck are three muscle groups covered by dense fibre fatty tissue. These muscles provide fine motor function in the movements of the head. And when these muscles become overworked, the tension in these trigger points can cause headaches and stiffness.

With our bespoke whirlpool baths, featuring c-lenda jets, we can specifically target this area in isolation to ease neck ache and provide greater comfort to your everyday.

I experience upper back and neck pain, how can a whirlpool bath help?

The trapezius is made up of large superficial muscles that extend from the thoracic vertebrae to the shoulder blade, while also extending to the head.

Stress often causes stiffness in this region, with overworked or stiff traps leading to a “heavy feeling” all the way to the upper back neck, or jaw pain.

Harnessing the benefits of whirlpool, our bespoke baths with c-lenda jets not only target the neck itself, but extend down to also target this upper back area. A triangular formation of microjets directs water to pinpoint specific trigger points.

I experience paraspinal pain, how can a whirlpool bath help?

These muscles are adjacent to the spine and provide the motor movements to the spine. They are open to being directly injured, or can cause problems indirectly when they spasm. A spasm occurs when a muscle tightens up caused by excess lactic acid and calcium. The blood vessels become constricted, and you feel back pain.

A whirlpool bath can support the soothing of aches and pains such as those caused by muscle spasms in the back, again through targeted microjets. In reference to the bespoke examples we have created for our clients, we can be very precise in the positioning of these jets to achieve exactly that which you require.

I experience lower back or gluteal pain, how can a whirlpool bath help?

The lumbosacral region is where lower back muscles attach the spine to the hip bones. A large and dense group of muscles and ligaments, they help lift and twist the torso. Lower back pain is most commonly caused by muscle strain associated with heavy lifting, bending or twisting in awkward positions. It is also a symptom of a sedentary lifestyle.

The gluteal comprises a large group of muscles whose main job is to hold an erect posture. Remarkably coarse in structure, large bundles of muscles connect the legs and hip bones. There are three trigger points in this region, with the gluteal becoming tense enough to compress the blood vessels and nerve causing numbness in some cases.

To combat these types of symptoms, whirlpools can feature jets across the whole seat of a bath, providing an even amount of pressure that supports from below – we’ve added as many as 40 jets for existing clients. This combined with jets targeting the back and neck will provide an all round relaxation experience that’s completely tailored to you and your needs.

I experience pain in my feet, how can a whirlpool bath help?

The nerves in the feet are the terminal endings which originate as part of other major nerves including the sciatic nerve. 50% of these nerves are situated on the top of your foot. Massaging these nerves is a key way to relax the entire body for healing and pain relief. And this is where whirlpool comes in.

By adding four very targeted microjets to the end of a whirlpool bath, hydrotherapy is harnessed to provide a dedicated massage to your feet, which, as we’ve mentioned, has benefits for your entire body as a whole. When done in conjunction with all of the aforementioned suggestions, Zone Therapy^® can be achieved in a holistic and very personal way.

Interested in finding out more? Our team are big believers in the wonders of whirlpool, underpinned by scientific research and evidence. Give us a call to discover how we can create the perfect hydrotherapy experience for you, quite literally on tap.

Image credit: Kaboompics.com – courtesy of Pexels (Available for use as stock at time of publication)