What is hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy is a a therapy that utilizes water to treat a variety of symptoms throughout your body. You might see it called water therapy, aquatic therapy, pool therapy or balneotherapy.
Keswick Active Health Group exclusively offers water therapy as part of our Physiotherapy programing. Our pool is a 90 degrees 12×24, Salt water pool which is 4.5 feet deep.
Healthcare providers have used water to treat injuries and diseases as far back as the beginning of recorded history. In the last 20 years, medical experts have started studied hydrotherapy as an evidence-based treatment for some conditions and symptoms. Studies have found that hydrotherapy can be a great option to alleviate symptoms like muscle pain and joint stiffness, post surgical treatment , weight loss option, MS pain, Fibromyalgia pain and so many more Arthritic conditions.
Why is hydrotherapy used?
Hydrotherapy is primarily used to relieve symptoms like pain and stiffness. The properties of the water allow this type of treatment to be a non weight bearing treatment.
Benefits of Hydrotherapy include but are not limited to:
Benefits:
- Pain.
- Stiffness.
- Bruising.
- Swelling.
- Muscle pain.
- Menstrual pain.
- Weight Loss
- Post surgical Strengthening
- Increased Circulation
- Increased Immunity
- Increased Cardia Function
- Decreased Tension
What does hydrotherapy treat?
People with several conditions can benefit from using water in different forms and at different temperatures to feel better. Hydrotherapy can provide symptomatic relief to people with the following conditions:
- Osteoarthritis.
- Fibromyalgia.
- Parkinson’s disease.
- Neuropathy.
- Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS).
- Multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Cerebral palsy.
Hydrotherapy and physical therapy
Hydrotherapy can also be a good supplement to physical therapy as you recover from an injury or surgery. Moving in water provides a low-resistance way to exercise safely. You’ve probably heard of water aerobics or swimming as a great option for people who experience pain from other types of workouts.
Always talk to your surgeon or provider before resuming any physical activity after a surgery. You might also need to wait a set amount of time after your surgery before you can get your incision site wet.
Hydrotherapy and pregnancy
Hydrotherapy has shown to be beneficial for some pregnant people. One study found that pregnant people with high blood pressure might be able to reduce their risk for complications like preeclampsia with regular hydrotherapy sessions.
Talk to your healthcare provider about what you want included in your pregnancy and labor plan.
Hydrotherapy and weight loss
Hydrotherapy on its own doesn’t cause, stimulate or improve weight loss. However, exercise plans that include working out in water can help you lose weight and improve your overall health. The extra resistance from the water can help burn more calories creating an overall higher expenditure leading to decreased body fat composition. Ask about our weight loss programs today.
How common is hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy is very common. If you’ve ever taken a bath with Epsom salt or a bath bomb, or relaxed in a cold tub after a workout, you’ve experienced hydrotherapy, whether or not you’ve called it that.
More involved forms of hydrotherapy are less common, mostly because they require special equipment and facilities.
Procedure Details
What should I do before starting hydrotherapy?
Talk to your healthcare provider before starting hydrotherapy. Even if you’re interested in starting an at-home routine, your provider will tell you if certain temperatures or applications of water can have side effects or risks.
What happens during hydrotherapy?
What happens during hydrotherapy depends on which form you receive. It can be as simple as bath or shower at home. Most hydrotherapy techniques have both at-home versions and more specialized applications done at dedicated clinics. Some of the most common forms of hydrotherapy include:
Hydrotherapy isn’t a curative treatment — it won’t cure or fix any disease or condition you have.
Natural medicine has many beneficial and culturally significant uses, but make sure you’re receiving treatment from certified providers. Naturopathic doctors are trained and accredited by reputable professional associations and medical colleges.
Recovery and Outlook
What is the recovery time after hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy should have little to no recovery time. You should be able to receive the treatment and then resume all your usual activities right away.
Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions about the next steps if you’re receiving hydrotherapy as part of a treatment plan for an injury or condition. .
