Hydrotherapy’s role in managing chronic conditions

If you’ve ever soothed your aching muscles with a long soak in a warm bath, you’ve glimpsed some of the wonders of hydrotherapy.

Hydrotherapy is an ancient practice that’s increasingly being recognised for its role in complementing mainstream treatment for a number of chronic conditions.

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What is hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy refers to movement and exercise (often for rehabilitation) in a warm pool conducted under the guidance of a trained therapist.

A purpose-built hydrotherapy pool may:

Be able chest-deep so you can stand easily
Include a rail for you to hold onto
Offer a few ways of getting into the water such as steps, a ramp or a hoist.

While a purpose-built hydrotherapy pool may be ideal, it is not essential. Any pool can be turned into a hydrotherapy pool if necessary provided the water is warm enough for your comfort and there’s a shallow end where you can stand up.

How does hydrotherapy help?

When you’re in a pool, you’re buoyed by the water. The water enables you to feel warm, weightless and well-balanced.

It also helps you exercise.

It’s quite amazing really. When you stand in waist-deep water, you carry only 50% of your body weight. When you go a little deeper into chest-deep water, you carry only 30% of your body weight.

Thanks to your buoyancy in water, there’s less pressure on your joints when you exercise while the water itself creates resistance that helps you build strength.

Benefits of hydrotherapy for chronic conditions

While hydrotherapy doesn’t cure any health conditions, it can relieve common symptoms like pain and stiffness, which may be associated with:

Osteoarthritis
Parkinson’s disease
Fibromyalgia
Neuropathy (nerve-related pain)
Multiple sclerosis
Cerebral palsy
Ankylosing spondylitis
Chronic pain.

Living with any chronic condition can take a toll on your physical and mental health. Hydrotherapy may help to improve health by:

Reducing stress on your joints
Enhancing blood flow, improving circulation and reducing swelling
Relieving muscle tension
Improving cardiovascular fitness
Strengthening muscles
Easing pain
Enabling you to exercise if you struggle to balance on land
Improving your balance and stability
Reducing stress and anxiety
Increasing your confidence in your body’s ability to move well.

Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy

Aquatic physiotherapy combines hydrotherapy with the skills of a trained physiotherapist.

We begin by identifying your movement difficulties. That may involve a land-based assessment and a discussion about your condition and symptoms. Then we design a pool-based exercise program to help achieve your rehab goals.

Your hydrotherapy exercises may include:

Water walking
Water jogging
Lunges
Balancing on one leg
Stepping side-to-side
Push ups (using the side of the pool)
Water planks.

If you’re nervous in the water or need help, your physiotherapist is right there for you.

Hydrotherapy equipment

Hydrotherapy equipment ranges from specialised to simple.

Specialised hydrotherapy equipment includes things like underwater treadmills and bicycles. That said, you can achieve a great deal with more commonplace tools like pool noodles, buoyancy belts and foam dumbbells.

How can we help?

At Valens Care, we offer mobile hydrotherapy programs led by a physiotherapist. We’ll come to whatever suits you best – your own pool, a friend’s place or the local council pool.

Book a free 15-minute call to find out more

Disclaimer
All information is general and not intended as a substitute for professional advice.

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