Dr. Steffan Schulz, a rheumatologist at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, states that the usefulness of hot water therapy is pretty well known among his patients, many of whom find great relief from their stiffness after a hot morning shower. Indeed, Dr. Schulz says, “warmth is really good at loosening up the body and relaxing tight and painful muscles, so we use it a lot on muscle strains and joints that are chronically achy.”
If you have chronic joint pain it is important to discern whether you have arthritis or arthralgia. Arthralgia is characterized by pain in the joints but does not include inflammation, which is generally found in arthritis. And if you do have arthritis, it is good to know the type and the cause. But in some instances, the source of the pain remains unclear. Dr. Schulz says that in these circumstances, rather than too quickly prescribing a pain-relieving drug, doctors may recommend hot water therapy — a more conservative approach to pain reduction. Furthermore, he says, “the fact that hot water therapy tends to reduce pain in the joint is something that patients usually find out even on their own.”
So if you’re suffering from arthritis, arthralgia, or any other type of chronic joint pain, you may try committing to a hot shower or a soak in the hot tub at the beginning of each day. Chances are high that it could really help.