# Effects of whirlpools on workouts?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effects-of-whirlpools-on-workouts/377830>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 25, 2006, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effects-of-whirlpools-on-workouts/377830 "2006-10-25T10:58:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effects-of-whirlpools-on-workouts/377830/1 "2006-10-25T10:58:29Z")

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Got a gym membership to a place that has a nice whirlpool/hot tub/whatever they’re called. I was wondering what the physiological effects would be on using it before and after workouts.

I’ve been spending 10 minutes in it after workouts to relax - and I find myself extremely weak when I get out - completely drained. I don’t know if that’s positive, negative, or either.

I’ve considered spending 5-10 minutes beforehand too to loosen up, but I don’t know if that would have benefits or not.

What are the general physiological effects, and what are they specifically pertaining to excercise? Are there benefits, or negatives?

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**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effects-of-whirlpools-on-workouts/377830/2 "2006-10-25T16:00:30Z")

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[QUOTE=SenorBeef]  
I’ve considered spending 5-10 minutes beforehand too to loosen up, but I don’t know if that would have benefits or not.  
[/QUOTE]

That wouldn’t work. You’ll get your body temperature raised slightly, but none of the other, more important effects of a warmup.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effects-of-whirlpools-on-workouts/377830/3 "2006-10-25T16:19:06Z")

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I wouldn’t do it instead of warming up, but in addition to.

I thought I’d read somewhere that a high external temperature causes increased bloodflow among other things - that seems like it would be beneficial, if so.