swimming pool is too cold, and it's taking me 2 to 3 days to recover. Any ideas or thoughts?

Circe

Hello , I have been swimming via a GP referral too the activities team as part of on-going physio exercise regime. However, my local baths have really cold pools. I have complained directly to the baths and also contacted my MP, Referral team about this issue. At the moment I am on a 12 week half price trial. I am not actually sure its helping me physically because of how cold the water temperature is. It takes me 2-3 days to recover from a swim session of 40-50 minutes. I am not alone, as I go on a disabled specific session everyone also feels the cold effects them, as it would do on the musculoskeletal system. I do feel it helps me mentally but truth be told I am struggling to keep motivated.

Any ideas or thoughts?

Ross_Alumni

Hello @Circe

Sorry to hear that your local pool is too cold, I'm not a fan of that myself when it comes to swimming pools.

Have you had any response from the baths or your MP about the issue? Perhaps is there another pool you could go to that would have warmer water?

newborn

Hydrotherapy pools are bath-hot for a reason.  Pain is soothed, muscles relax, sinoveal fluid eases, and joints can achieve a range of movement impossible on land. The profession of physiotherapy has a specialist branch of hydrotherapists,  based on that fact, 

Special schools, hospitals and rehabilitation centres have bath-hot pools.( Other systems use indidvidual cubicles with underwater cycles,balance balls or treadmills) 

Immersion in cold water does damage to damaged bodies.  Muscles clench, sinoveal fluid thickens, joints  become rigid and pain increases. Tearing, and even permanent damage can result to injured or disabled people.  It is dangerous and wrong to attempt it.

The Equalities Act and the Public Sector Duty is to ensure that Reasonable Adjustment is made to ensure disabled people are not exclude from aservice by reason of disability.

As ever, I ask why it is of course considered reprehensible to exclude part of the population by race, yet somehow Disability Discrimination and Age Discrimination are laws to be ignored?  
Would it be perfectly o.k. for swimming provision to exclude black people, or make it impossible for Muslims to attend?   What about a service which excludes gay people; would that be fine? Obviously not.

But disabled people simply are not equal under equal human rights. Sir Trevor Phillips,when head of the equalities commission, described Disablism as "worse than racism".  He said it is "invisible, pervasive, institutionalised, publicly accepted and universally practiced"

Mistybee

Hi I feel for you.Swimming I feel is wonderful exercise, but yes I gather does need to be over a certain temperature to be therapeutic. 

I too need to get back in the pool for this reason (but now unable to without assistance).
I finding it desperately frustrating trying to find a warm  enough pool. Easily accessible and help to get to/ dressed / undressed.
Good luck with your search though, this kind of help and information should be freely available from physios  and alike.
where can we get help here please, anyone any advice?
 

Circe

Thanks for your replies, I haven't quite mastered how to reply individually on here, so bear with me. 

I didn't get any satisfactory replies from Pool company or the MP. Both saying pool temp is within standards.  No way is it! But how do you prove it? ?  I personally think it comes down to cost cutting. As I understand it the warmer the water the more maintenance it takes. 
I have emailed a private gym about their pool but they never got back to me! Says it all , the nearest Hydrotherapy pool has been closed since covid landed on the UK.

poppy123456

Circe said:

Thanks for your replies, I haven't quite mastered how to reply individually on here, so bear with me. 

I didn't get any satisfactory replies from Pool company or the MP. Both saying pool temp is within standards.  No way is it! But how do you prove it? ?  I personally think it comes down to cost cutting. As I understand it the warmer the water the more maintenance it takes. 
I have emailed a private gym about their pool but they never got back to me! Says it all , the nearest Hydrotherapy pool has been closed since covid landed on the UK.

To reply to an individual person you just "quote" their comment or put an @before their username.

To be honest i think they more than likely are within the standard temps. All the swimming pools i've been to have always been far too cold for me and i've moved house several times in the past 10 years.

If you have a health condition that is made worse by the cold then the temperatures of any swimming pool will always be too cold for you.

I was referred for hydrotherapy some years ago and the temp of the water is always warmer but it was still too cold for me because of my health condition.

I don't think there's anything anyone can do about temps of swimming pools sadly.

Circe

I made a decision to stop going, I just can't handle the cold and the 3 day recovery period. I may go back occasionally but I'm not sure yet.

littleacorn

Before covid I came across the same situation and asked the swimming attended to test the water temperature which he did. He said it was the correct temperature but I cant remember what it was. If I can I use the small swimming pool for children as that is much warmer but no good to swim in just to relax. 

I tried everywhere in my area for a warmer pool that was accessible but to no avail. Private pools may be a little water but are usually not accessible.  I even found a private hydrotherapy pool and asked the GP for a referral but the answer was no! 

I think this is an area which needs adressed nationally as disabled peopel are prevented from this exercise.  Is this discriminatory? Where is the reaonable adjustment? There may be graduated steps into the pool and large changing rooms which are all useless if the pool is too cold.

Mistybee

littleacorn said:

Before covid I came across the same situation and asked the swimming attended to test the water temperature which he did. He said it was the correct temperature but I cant remember what it was. If I can I use the small swimming pool for children as that is much warmer but no good to swim in just to relax. 

I tried everywhere in my area for a warmer pool that was accessible but to no avail. Private pools may be a little water but are usually not accessible.  I even found a private hydrotherapy pool and asked the GP for a referral but the answer was no! 

I think this is an area which needs adressed nationally as disabled peopel are prevented from this exercise.  Is this discriminatory? Where is the reaonable adjustment? There may be graduated steps into the pool and large changing rooms which are all useless if the pool is too cold.

I totally agree with you there.
My physio told me years ago about the cut backs for hydrotherapy( yet only suitable therapy ) shortage and zero chance of getting referral.
A vet once told me we have more chance getting hydrotherapy if we were animals.

Dose us up with drugs instead eh and keep big pharma happy and **** on the disabled. 

Anyone have a private Warm  pool they would hire out even 30 minutes a week in the Solihull area ? ?

Circe

I agree! Yet nowt seems to change does it. This is twice I've tried swimming and things still haven't altered. Privatisation of former council owned pools here hasn't helped. Felt rushed out of the sessions at times too. 


littleacorn said:

Before covid I came across the same situation and asked the swimming attended to test the water temperature which he did. He said it was the correct temperature but I cant remember what it was. If I can I use the small swimming pool for children as that is much warmer but no good to swim in just to relax. 

I tried everywhere in my area for a warmer pool that was accessible but to no avail. Private pools may be a little water but are usually not accessible.  I even found a private hydrotherapy pool and asked the GP for a referral but the answer was no! 

I think this is an area which needs adressed nationally as disabled peopel are prevented from this exercise.  Is this discriminatory? Where is the reaonable adjustment? There may be graduated steps into the pool and large changing rooms which are all useless if the pool is too cold.

Reg

Hello 

Have you tried all the gyms in your area or googled private hydrotherapy in your area?

I ask as in my area we have a private gym with a secret hydro pool (as it is not advertised or marketed)  . You get to use it by a private physio appointment with the physio linked to the pool but after the first paid appointment you can then go to cheap group sessions.

I have not tried it as can't drive to it but I was amazed at how no one seemed to advertise it even though all the NHS physios etc recommend warm water.

I am hoping there is a similar 'secret ' facility in your area 

Circe

Reg said:

Hello 

Have you tried all the gyms in your area or googled private hydrotherapy in your area?

I ask as in my area we have a private gym with a secret hydro pool (as it is not advertised or marketed)  . You get to use it by a private physio appointment with the physio linked to the pool but after the first paid appointment you can then go to cheap group sessions.

I have not tried it as can't drive to it but I was amazed at how no one seemed to advertise it even though all the NHS physios etc recommend warm water.

I am hoping there is a similar 'secret ' facility in your area 

Local Hydro pool is closed, contacted the only private gym with a pool - received nothing back.

mia97

Hey!

I recommend wearing a 'wetsuit' when swimming. This is what surfers, sailers, waterspouts people wear. I use them all the time when I go water-skiing. They keep me much warmer and then I do not get effected by the cold water. They range in price, from cheap to high-end quality. Make sure to buy one which fits properly, they are meant to be 'snug' fitting, so that they do not let any cold air in.?

Circe

unfortunately a wet suit wouldn't be practical for me as sometimes dressing is difficult particularly after swimming. Getting in and out of a standard swimsuit is bad enough let alone trying to shoe horn myself into a wet suit lol.

Mistybee

Totally with you there!

The temperature of water, ease or help of getting to and into  and out of water and the  help with dressing that’s the problem for many I guess… sure is for me.