15/06/2023
Is hydrotherapy for you?
Hydrotherapy (or Aquatic therapy) is when rehabilitative exercises are completed in a body of water (usually a comfortable 29-33 degrees). The warm water has proven clinical benefits for management of chronically painful conditions of the muscles and joints such as; osteoarthritis, neurological conditions, fibromyalgia and a miriad of other painful conditions.
By doing exercises in a body of water, the forces of gravity are counteracted by opposing forces of buoyancy, which in turn can help to unlock more freedom of movement on weight bearing joints such as the knees, hips, ankles and spine.
That’s not to say that doing exercises in a pool is any easier than on land. Water is thicker than air, which means that movement through water adds resistance without adding load on joints. Hydrotherapy is a proven strategy to safely and effectively build muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness without aggravating painful conditions, and can help improve balance with a reduced risk of falling when compared to land based exercises.
When creating a hydrotherapy program for someone, we cater it to their own goals and functional demands. Factors such as depth, upper limb support, and added buoyancy with the use of floatation devices will all affect the difficulty and progression of the individual’s recovery, and should he properly determined by your treating clinician.
If hydrotherapy interests you or someone you know, please feel free to contact us:
Email (1upphysiotherapy@gmail.com)
Mobile (0498 46 16 17)
or DM us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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