Hydrotherapy is the use of heated water for the treatment of various conditions in the human body. Physiotherapists have devised a way to treat conditions such as arthritis, and other rheumatic related conditions. Very different from swimming, hydrotherapy involves exercises specially formulated to provide relief to medical conditions.
A physiotherapist conducts these special exercises in a pool at 33-360, which is a few degrees warmer than your typical pool used for swimming. Hydrotherapy exercises are unique to each patient and are adjustable to help each patient’s range of movement and strength depending on the symptoms they pose. There are two types of hydrotherapy, immersion, and non-immersion.
List of Advantages of Hydrotherapy
1. Relieves pain and reduces muscular tension
When in the hydrotherapy pool, you feel a kind of weightlessness that serves to relieve tension and pain in your limbs. The water also supports the aching limbs and ease movement. The practice of hydrotherapy stimulates the release of endorphins, which act as the natural pain reliever.
2. Rehabilitation of injured muscles
Warm water raises your body temperature while increasing the blood flow in your body. Hydrotherapy incorporates a heated pool, which will ensure that there is improved blood flow helping in the repair process of your injured tissues as well as rehabilitating damaged joints and muscles.
3. Stress relief
Studies show that the use of hydrotherapy treatment while on a de-stress holiday, it works wonders. Hydrotherapy reduces blood pressure caused by stress. More and more people are taking up hydrotherapy as it can slow down the reaction of the body to anxiety by releasing endorphins, which fight stress and pain naturally.
List of Disadvantages of Hydrotherapy
1. Overheating
This is the most common type of side effects of hydrotherapy. It occurs when you spend too much time in the hydrotherapy pool.
2. Causes Cardiac Instability
Prolonged hydrotherapy treatments can cause uncontrolled hypertension and heart failure.
3. Spread of Waterborne diseases
Since you will be in the water for hydrotherapy treatment, you are at a risk of contracting UTIs, tinea pedis and or plantar warts.
4. Severe Epilepsy
While undertaking hydrotherapy treatment exercises some patients easily develop severe epilepsy, which increases the risk of drowning.
5. Bowel and bladder inconsistency
This is common with non-immersion exercises. These exercises are the leading cause of inconsistent bowel and bladder movements.
While hydrotherapy has its good and bad sides to it, it is wise to consult a physician. Hydrotherapy is not for patients with respiratory problems. Exercise proper care when carrying out hydrotherapy treatment since it can cause disorientation and confusion.
Natalie Regoli is a child of God, devoted wife, and mother of two boys. She has a Master's Degree in Law from The University of Texas. Natalie has been published in several national journals and has been practicing law for 18 years.