The Benefits of Hydrotherapy
If you’re suffering from an injury, problems with mobility, severe arthritis or chronic illness, the benefits of hydrotherapy treatment are remarkable. Between joint mobilisation or manipulation, reduction in pain caused by chronic illness, soft tissue and growth stimulation, the benefits of hydrotherapy services are abundant. Research suggests that hydrotherapy is even proven to have a positive effect on one’s mental health.
What Is Hydrotherapy Treatment?
Hydrotherapy treatment refers to the use of dedicated exercises in water as part of a treatment for particular conditions. Hydrotherapy is typically conducted in a pool; however, the exercise can be undertaken in other types of open water. As a result of your body being supported by the water mass, hydrotherapy is a low impact way to exercise that can assist individuals to recover from injuries, re-gain mobility, treat joint pain and inflammation, and strengthen weak muscles.
Why Is Hydrotherapy Used?
Hydrotherapy leverages the properties of water, like buoyancy and hydrostatic pressure, to benefit the patient.
Warm water encourages muscle relaxation, which can allow the individual to move freely and exercise without overbearing pain or stiffness. It can allow individuals suffering from chronic physical restrictive conditions to move into positions they wouldn’t be able to regularly.
Hydrotherapy can also reduce the severity of pain related to chronic conditions such as arthritis or injuries. The weightlessness of body mass in water is a major contributing factor for a reduction in joint, muscular or nerve pain.
The benefits of hydrotherapy can be applied to numerous conditions, including injuries causing pain, sport injuries, osteoarthritis, lymphoedema, and chronic and persistent pain management.
The Purpose of Hydrotherapy
The hydrotherapy purpose in physiotherapy terms is quite simple: to create a weightless, supported environment for individuals to engage in exercise they may not otherwise be capable of conducting.
The condition the physiotherapist is aiming to treat will determine the hydrotherapy purpose. Typically, the goal of hydrotherapy is to increase mobility, encourage movement in stiff or immobile areas of the body, reduce pain and improve muscular strength.
Health Benefits of Hydrotherapy
The health benefits of hydrotherapy may include:
- Reduced pain and swelling
- Improved mobility
- Increased function
- Faster recovery from surgery
- Improved fitness and strength
- Mental wellbeing
- Improved balance and coordination
Reduced Pain and Swelling
The benefits of hydrotherapy can include reduced pain and swelling of muscles and joints. The hydrostatic pressure in water helps to reduce swelling whilst exercising, which can cause severe pain. It also improves post exercise muscle soreness, so that clients aiming to increase mobility don’t experience severe pain as an outcome of the exercise. This is particularly beneficial for anyone suffering from chronic arthritis.
Improved Mobility
The buoyancy of water reduces weight bearing stress on the body, which is one of the most significant benefits of hydrotherapy. Removing that weight encourages freedom of movement, as well as range of motion whilst experiencing physiotherapy in water. The end result is improved mobility that can carry through to outside the water as well.
Increased Function
The warmth and buoyancy of water encourages muscles to relax when performing hydrotherapy. This optimises the functionality of the body so that throughout rehabilitation or pain management programs, individuals can get back to performing the daily lifestyle tasks that they have been prohibited from conducting due to an injury or chronic condition.
Faster Recovery from Surgery
If you’ve undergone any type of surgery, it is likely that the hospital will prescribe you with treatment which will align with the type of surgery that was undertaken. Hydrotherapy is commonly used as a post-operative treatment that will be a vital part of your healing and recovery, as well as assisting in reducing scar tissue and managing pain.
Improved Fitness and Strength
Strength and conditioning training, rehabilitation or management helps to improve posture, mobility, cardio capabilities and coordination. Improving fitness and strength is essential for those recovering from injuries to get back to their daily tasks as soon as possible. In addition, hydrotherapy is essential for elderly clients seeking to become more confident in their balance and coordination. This assists them with completing daily tasks and ultimately may prevent injury caused by falls.
Mental Wellbeing
Taking a holistic approach, mental wellbeing is a significant advantage of hydrotherapy. It allows otherwise immobile patients to move with more freedom and exercise with reduced pain levels.
Experience the Benefits of Hydrotherapy
If you’re looking for more information regarding what is hydrotherapy treatment, we recommend visiting NQ Physio Solutions discuss and discover the benefits of hydrotherapy with a qualified physiotherapist. At NQ Physio Solutions, our goal is to conduct evidence-based treatments on our clients to help you get back to doing the things you love, sooner.
Ready to experience first-hand the benefits of hydrotherapy? Contact us today to book your next consultation with one of our physiotherapists.