The sheer number of people that are referred or come in and see me that have never heard of hydrotherapy astounds me. It is such a useful tool in any rehabilitation setting and I cannot recommend it enough, I have been utilizing and recommending hydrotherapy as a rehabilitation tool for over 4 years now and it’s still a favourite of mine, as well as my clients.
What is hydrotherapy?
If you are getting flashbacks to aqua-aerobics, which rose in popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, close but not quite. Hydrotherapy is using warm water in a pool (usually 33-35C) to aid in the treatment of a range of conditions. These include conditions or scenarios such as:
Arthritis
Acute post-surgery rehabilitation (i.e. post knee/hip/shoulder replacement)
The patient being severely limited on land due to restrictions in mobility
Chronic conditions that can affect the nervous system
Chronic pain (i.e. back pain that is exacerbated by most other forms of exercise)
The buoyancy of the water takes the pressure off your joints and the temperature of the water can help soothe flared-up arthritic joints. The levels of intensity vary in any given Hydrotherapy session, starting with light through to high intensity for fitness and weight loss.
Hydrotherapy can decrease pain and swelling, increase function, strength and range of movement, improve mood and sleep in some and fitness and weight loss in others.
A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that hydrotherapy is easy, and it is easier on the joints, but it can be challenging if you push yourself. By using equipment such as the ones pictured, you can really make a program interesting.
Even if you can’t swim you can benefit greatly, and we are always close by so you are always safe and comfortable. Like every program, your hydrotherapy sessions are specifically designed to the individual.
Group hydrotherapy classes are also available so feel free to contact us to join one.
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