Why Exercising in Water is the Safest Way to Stay Fit
Most forms of exercise involve some risk of injury. According to recent studies, sixty five percent of runners will suffer a significant injury each year. Even more sports players routinely hurt themselves and lose the opportunity to exercise. Some never get past the rehab phase and back into training again.
Swimming is the form of exercise least likely to cause these problems. There is no jarring of the skeleton at each footfall. Ligaments and cartilage are not subject to the kinds of intense pressure that many sports involve.
The problem is that many people have no swimming facilities nearby and don't have the space in their backyard for a full sized swimming pool. A swim spa can be the solution.
A quality, good sized swim spa- say 16 feet by 9 feet and up to six feet deep- costs between $30,000 and $40,000. Some cheaper, smaller but still usable models can be around half of that.
H2X Swim Spa
Fitness Training in the Calspa Swim Spa F1257 Hot Tub
The Uses of Swim Spas
Fitness Training
Both full sized pools and swim spas offer convenience. They can allow you to squeeze serious training into a busy schedule. There is no travel, no equipment to carry and no queuing in crowded gyms.
Swim spas perform as well as conventional pools for endurance training and many offer superior relaxation afterwards- especially if they have hydro jets for massage.
Aquatic Gym Workouts
Swimming is not the only form of exercise available to swim spa owners. For anyone needing gentle exercise, water walking on a treadmill can be very beneficial. Controlling the current you are walking into gives you a range of different exercise levels.
Weights, ankle tethers, rowing machines and webbed gloves can increase the intensity and a spa can become an aquatic gym.
Family Relaxation
Swim spas are versatile. Some people use them like big hot tubs purely for relaxation and play. A family can enjoy swimming, massage and just chilling out.
As therapy
Water has great therapeutic advantages for treatment of injuries. Once gravity is eased there is far less pressure put on joints and soft tissues. A graduated recovery program can easily be devised by trained therapists.
Some of the groups that most benefit are those that find any kind of exercise difficult. This includes the obese and the elderly. Arthritis sufferers can reap huge benefits from gentle exercise in warm water. There are far fewer worries about falling, too.
Any kind of swimming aids cardiovascular health. Exercising in warm water also helps ease chronic back pain and reduces stiffness of all kinds. Various studies have shown positive affects with seemingly unrelated issues like insomnia. diabetes and depression
Current Generation- Jets, Paddle-wheels, Propellers.
Probably the single most important consideration in the choice of a swim spa is how the current is generated.
The ideal experience comes from swimming in a steady, non-turbulent current that is strong enough to offer you the work out you need.
Swim jets are inexpensive but generate the the most turbulence. It can feel as if you are swimming into a high pressure hose. They are best for fun swimming in short bursts.
Current generators that use propellers generate a lot less turbulence and are acceptable for most people.
A large paddle wheel provides the best strong, deep steady current but only one manufacturer offers this system and it is the most expensive option.
Current speed should always be adjustable for serious swimmers. Top athletes will need up to 8 mph for a good workout.
An Endless Pools instalation in Arizona http://www.flickr.com/photos/endlesspools/2110405913/
Calspa swim spa with separate hot tub
Choosing a Swim SpaTypes of Swim Spa
Some swim spas are strictly for exercise. Most offer exercise plus a place to relax.
Those swim spas that offer to double as a hot tub may not always deliver such a good experience as a purpose built hot tub. A swim spa with attached hot tub offers the best of both worlds.
Points to look for
How many seats?
What is the overall size and effective swimming area?
Is the swim area big enough for the exercise that you want?
Attachment points for aquatic gym work outs?
Enough flat bottom space for underwater treadmills or aqua bikes?
Are massage jets included?
Is the current generated by swim jets, propeller or paddle-wheel?Is there an ozonator (which helps purify the water)?What comes under the warranty- structure, pumps, heaters?
Fibreglass or acrylic liners? Well constructed fibreglass can be as good as acrylic but cheaper fibreglass is always suspect. Installation
Local spa stores will install- at a price- but if you buy in kit form from an online supplier you will need to allow time for the assembly or find installers (and pay them). There are also extras like steps and decking to think about.
The installation of an above ground swim spa is rated as straightforward for someone with good DIY skills and a full tool set but time consuming- maybe spreading over several weekends.
If you decide to set the pool in-ground and pay a contractor, your costs could climb rapidly. It is worth phoning round and finding an installer willing to give a price for the work before going ahead with a purchase.
You will certainly need a qualified electrician to wire in high voltage models and may need to satisfy local building regulations which can also add to the final price. Outdoor swim spas might need security covers or fencing for safety reasons
Once installed, running costs for a swim spa are a lot less than a swimming pool- as little as 35 dollars a month in eco-friendly, well insulated models.
If you are worried about the environmental impact of your spa or just want to save money, you should think about solar pool heating. It's cheap and it works:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Pool--Spa-and-Hot-Tub-Solar-Heating-Systems
Screenshot from SwimEx.com showing thier patented paddle-wheel http://www.swimex.com/pdf/Residential_Buyers_Guide.pdf
SwimEx with Paddle-wheel
There are no seats, built in TVs or LEDs here- this is a swim spa designed purely for exercise. The bottom is entirely flat with a skid-free surface and nothing to hit arms or legs against. The current is supplied by a paddle-wheel and is adjustable by air transmission controls.
The liner is fibreglass moulded in a single piece for strength and durability. An ozone generator is standard, reducing maintenance and chemical use.The whole thing can be shipped as a finished unit or assembled on site.
The paddle-wheel system ensures a steady current with little turbulence and offers a smooth, quiet and trouble-free swim.
SwimEx's well designed web site has all the information you need to make space planning decisions including full specifications for architects and builders. They also offer a free DVD.
The 400 OS model starts at $27,000. The 480-S home OS starts at $40,000, is deeper and has a greater current depth. Prices exclude taxes and installation.
One of the more expensive choices but the paddle-wheel and floor space makes it a good buy for someone who plans to swim or train a lot.
http://www.swimex.com/home/pools/400os.html
insertVideo('YouTube', 'Noe8xS0oqyE', 'videoYouTubeBig', '', 'video_126744', '');Endless Pool Swim Spa
This is one of the best known companies. Starting at around $20,000 dollars for a bare bones, fourteen feet model the Endless Pool Swim Spa is the mid-range model all the others need to beat.
The website has a free DVD which covers features, installation and optional extras. You can check all the prices in this detailed price list.
endlesspools.com/whatis/what_pricelist.html
Some of the optional extras that are not included in the starting price are pretty essential. These include side panels and covers but if you take the time to go through the price list and see what you want and don't want, there won't be any big surprises down the line.
When it comes to installation, you can tackle it yourself, if you some construction skills, or employ someone locally. Alternatively, you can make use of the factory trained installers who promise to have you swimming in a couple of days. You will need to call for a price.
There is a ten year warranty on the acrylic shell.
Customer review:
hot-tub-reviews.com/endless-pool-swim-spa-review.htm
Bradford Spas ScreenShot
Bradford Spas
These are top of the range, custom built, stainless steel and ceramic tile-lined swim spas from a company with twenty years experience in the spa manufacturing business. They supply health professionals and home users with beautiful and durable pools but you should expect a sizable price tag.
On the plus side, any money that you spend on a Bradford Spa will certainly add to the value of your home. This company builds spas that will last and last.
swimspas/swim%20spas.html
Customer Review here:
/bradford-swim-spa-review.htm
.
Swim Master Spas
Swim Master Spas have specifications which are truly impressive on paper. The bigger sizes offer six seats and are around fourteen feet long and eight feet across. The depth is a generous four and a half feet. Included are as many pumps pulsators and roto-jets as anyone could ask for.
The shell is acrylic and you can choose from a wide range of colors to suit your location. Given that prices start at around $18,000, this company is worth looking into.
affordablespas.com/specials.shtml
Simple concrete, tile and stone spa.
Concrete Swim Spas
Tiled, concrete pools and spas often cost no more than in-ground acrylic pools or spas but offer advantages like greater control over design and the ability to tailor a spa to a tight space. If you like the look of tiled or plastered pools why not get a price from a local builder? Or try the custom spa builder here: http://www.anthonysylvan.com/spas-opt-swimspa.asp
Swim jets, like the Badu Stream below, are available to be let into pool sides or over-the-wall jets can be used.
The disadvantage of concrete hot tubs- like the lack of moulded seating to secure you against the buffeting action of hydro-jets, are less of an issue with swim spas.
Over-the-wall Swim Jet from Badu Stream
In-wall Badu Stream Swim Jet
Convert an Existing Spa or Enhance a Small Swimming Pool with Swim Jets
Badu Stream and Exerswim
Powerful over-the wall or built in swim jets can create a swim-in-place experience in any pool or spa longer than 13 feet. Cheapest prices range from about $3,000 in-wall (excluding installation) to a little more than $4000 over-the wall.The Badu Stream over-the-wall model requires a 15 Amp 240 supply.
The Exerswim over-the wall model is powered by rechargable batteries and is completely portable. The propeller driven current is adjustable from 0 to 6 miles an hour. The price is approximately $4,000.
More on Swim Jets here: http://www.fiberliner.info/
Discount swim jets: swimming spa discount jets
Screenshot from aquatic-exercise-equipment.com
Aquatic Fitness Training and Therapy Equipment
The site above has every piece of equipment you could ever need for aquatic training or rehabilitation. It has lifts and hand rails for people with poor mobility. It has treadmills and step and twist gear for aerobics. It even has underwater bicycles.
Whether you are athlete staying in shape or a significantly disabled person, select the equipment that you need and make the most of your swim spa. You can easily develop exercise programs tailored to your individual needs. Best of all you will never break into a sweat!
http://www.aquatic-exercise-equipment.com/
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