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Hydrotherapy or aquatic therapy is the use of water for rehabilitation, exercise and therapy. Water has a number of unique properties which allow for an optimum environment to provide rehabilitation and therapy. In this blog we will be discussing the benefits of water based therapy, and what people would benefit most from hydrotherapy. 

 

What are the benefits of water based therapy?

Hydrotherapy works based on the unique properties of water. These properties are buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, resistance and temperature. 

 

Due to the role of each of these properties it allows hydrotherapy to be a fantastic option of treatment for a number of reasons. This includes:

 

Reduce pain and muscle spasm

Increase muscle and general relaxation 

Maintain and increase joint range of motion 

Strengthen muscles which may be weak

Encourage walking and other functional activities 

Improve balance and coordination 

Reduce swelling 

Help with weight loss 

Great for general health and cardiovascular fitness

 

But how does it do all this? 

 

Again this is all because of the unique properties of water. Due to the buoyancy of water this allows for exercise to have less of an impact on the joints of the body. Because of this everything becomes much easier when in the water compared to the land. 

 

Hydrostatic pressure can play a role in reducing swelling when at deeper levels of the pool or in water. This is because as you go deeper into the water the pressure of the fluid will become greater, meaning that this can be a great way to reduce any swelling. 

 

Resistance or viscosity may be helpful when trying to increase the intensity of your workout. For example, if you wanted to do any water running, then the faster you go will determine how much resistance you will feel in the water. This makes the water a fantastic environment to build on your muscle strength. 

 

What people would benefit most from hydrotherapy? 

 

The short answer is everyone, hydrotherapy is a fantastic option for most people due to it’s low impact nature. However I will be more specific. Due to hydrotherapy being such a good option for people in pain, water therapy would be greatly suited too conditions like osteoarthritis, rhuematoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, ankylosing spondylitis and persistent pain. 

 

In fact there is some fantastic research to suggest that hydrotherapy over an extended period can improve a person’s quality of life, pain and of course general health. 

 

Hydrotherapy can also be fantastic for athletes as well, whether it be for a cross training session or for the purpose of recovery. 

 

 

Hydrotherapy is a fantastic option for treatment for most people and because of the unique properties of water, hydrotherapy can be considered one of the best treatment options for people with musculoskeletal injury or pain. 

 

If you or anyone else you know is interested in learning more about hydrotherapy or you would like to add hydrotherapy as part of your treatment or regular training routine than please get in contact with me today. 

 

Chris Pearson
Physiotherapist & Accredited Exercise Physiologist