Tired and listless?

Get fit for spring with our Kneipp tips!

Immersing your arms in cool water invigorates and refreshes.

(Bild: Österreichischer Kneippbund)

Arm baths, treading water and knee casts - we'll tell you exactly how these water treatments work. Then it's time to follow suit! You can also read about the positive effects Kneipp treatments have on the body and which illnesses should be treated with caution.

Water plays an important role in all areas of our lives: whether as a thirst quencher, for personal hygiene, cooking, washing clothes, leisure activities, etc.

But it is also essential for our health. Pastor Sebastian Kneipp (1821-1897) already appreciated the value of this special element. "Today, in addition to the pillars of medicinal herbs, nutrition, exercise and lifestyle, water plays a central role in the Kneipp program when it comes to strengthening the immune system and promoting health and quality of life," explains Georg Jillich, sports scientist and President of the Austrian Kneipp Association.

100 different Kneipp treatments
"There are over 100 different Kneipp treatments: cold, warm and alternating treatments, treading water, pouring, baths, washes, wraps and compresses. They all have the purpose of bringing temperature stimuli to the skin and stimulating the body to react. In this way, the body's own powers are mobilized with natural stimuli and strengthened through regular training," reports the convinced Kneipper. If you want to be on the safe side, get your doctor's permission before using it.

"Kneipp espresso" against spring tiredness
Especially in spring, many people feel tired and listless. An arm bath can be worthwhile: First dip your right arm, then your left arm as far as possible into cold water and move it gently for about 10 seconds. Count out loud so that you don't forget to breathe out. Then remove the water and warm up by moving.

The arm bath is not suitable for heart disease, high blood pressure and chronic, inflammatory or degenerative rheumatic changes. Cold applications should only be applied to warm areas of the body and should only last a few seconds. The cold stimulus should not hurt!

Sports scientist and Kneipp Association President Georg Jillich treading water.

(Bild: Österreichischer Kneippbund)

Treading water for the immune system
Treading water promotes blood circulation, stimulates the circulation, strengthens the veins and refreshes. This is how it works: In cold, almost knee-deep water (e.g. in a lake or stream), take around 20 to 40 steps with warm legs and feet in a stork walk - with each step, the leg is pulled completely out of the water and then put back in.

Then remove the water and warm up your legs on dry land. Treading water is not suitable for people with circulatory disorders of the legs, recent thromboses, acute febrile illnesses, a tendency to urinary tract infections, bladder and kidney diseases and abdominal infections in women.

The knee cast can be performed alone or - as shown here - with support.

(Bild: Österreichischer Kneippbund)

How the knee cast works
Start by pouring the water over the right little toe, slowly walk up the outside of the leg to the back of the knee, pass the stream back and forth three times over the back of the knee and walk down the inside of the leg.

Do the same on the left leg, but switch to the right leg after the left popliteal fossa, pass the jet back and forth three times, then return to the left popliteal fossa, pass the jet back and forth three times again and only then descend with the water on the inside of the left leg.