Swim spa

What It Is

Swim spa (Endless Pools)

Though some call them counter-current pools or therapy pools, the more accurate name is “swim spa.” This product provides a water current against which the user swims in place. The current can be adjusted by dials on the unit, giving the user the ability to change his/her swimming pace to match what is needed or desired. The product can provide a challenging workout – or a leisurely swim.

For still others with disabilities, the swim spa offers hydrotherapy. Warm-water therapy is an excellent form of low-impact exercise, giving the user greater range of motion and relaxing the muscles. Hydrotherapy also is said to help increase circulation, reduce leg swelling and may even boost lung capacity.

“Water’s greatest gifts are independence, building confidence and increasing mobility,” Julia Meno-Fettig is quoted as saying on disaboom.com. The certified therapeutic recreation specialist and a national speaker for the Aquatic therapy & Rehab Institute adds, “People leave their wheelchairs, prosthetics, canes or crutches behind and have freedom of movement in the water. They can float on their backs, roll, and get into positions that they are unable to duplicate on land.”

Details

Swim spa (SwimEx)

Swim spas tend to be made of acrylic or fiberglass, with shapes varying from a near-square to an elongated, lap-pool look. For the exercise-minded swimmer who wants his/her own swimming space that won’t create a big footprint on their property, the swim spa may be a good choice.

Typical swim spa lengths include, but are not limited to, 14 feet 6 inches (holding 18,30 to 1,900 gallons) to 19 feet (holding 2,050 gallons) – and various sizes in between. It is possible to find a swim spa to fit just about any space indoors or outdoors.

Among the possibilities are swim spa/hot tub combinations, seats or no seats, treadmill options – the list goes on and on. Indeed, inground, custom-made concrete swim spas are yet another option for homeowners.

The price tag for a portable swim spa can range from $8,000 to $40,000 or more, including installation costs. For those with prescriptions for aquatic therapy from their doctors, they may be able to use the cost of a swim spa as a medical deduction on income taxes.