Distributor Artesian Spas is helping to reduce anxiety among the residents of the Beech Tree care home for young adults with learning difficulties and other problems associated with autism, thanks to the installation of a hot tub in the home's garden.

While a hot tub in itself will not cure anxiety disorders – a fact that both Artesian and Beech Tree acknowledge – it does offer a level of hydrotherapy that is said to help alleviate the tension, nervousness and other symptoms that accompany anxiety attacks.

Care home manager Julia says:"In our experience, Artesian's hot tub not only reduces anxiety, but it helps anyone who is affected by stress, depression and mind disorders. Using hot tubs more often is healthy for your mind and body."

Water puts constant tactile input on the body and increases hydrostatic pressure, providing the physical sensation that autistic children often seek. "Having something constantly touching every part of the body can be really calming," says Julia. "Even the echoes in an indoor water environment are escalated so you get a lot more auditory input. You also have lots of visual input; sometimes just the light reflecting off the water is beneficial."

The sensory input also helps children with Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID), also called sensory processing disorder – a neurological disorder causing difficulties with processing information involving the senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste as well as movement. SID often affects those with autism, attention-deficit disorder, dyslexia, Tourette's Syndrome, multiple sclerosis and speech problems.