Hydrotherapy

Find out more about hydrotherapy and who can benefit.

Hydrotherapy, also known as aquatic therapy, is a form of physiotherapy that utilises water-based techniques to promote healing and rehabilitation. This treatment involves exercises specifically designed for the water environment, which can enhance movement patterns and offer significant benefits for recovery.

Hydrotherapy offers a wide range of benefits due to the unique properties of water, such as buoyancy, resistance, and hydrostatic pressure. These benefits make it an effective treatment for various conditions, especially for individuals with mobility limitations, joint pain, or muscle injuries.

Conditions we treat with hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is beneficial for treating a wide range of conditions, including:

Arthritis: Reduces joint pain and stiffness.
Post-surgical recovery: Eases rehabilitation after surgeries such as joint replacements.
Sports injuries: Helps with recovery from strains, sprains, and fractures.
Neurological conditions: Assists in restoring motor function and balance in conditions like stroke or multiple sclerosis.
Back pain: Reduces pressure on the spine and improves mobility.
Chronic pain: Provides a low-impact environment for those with fibromyalgia or other chronic pain conditions.

Key benefits of hydrotherapy

1. Pain relief and muscle relaxation

The buoyant properties of water reduce the impact on joints and muscles, making movements easier and less painful. This is particularly beneficial for people with conditions like arthritis, chronic pain or those with limited weight bearing following fracture or surgery.
Soothing warm water can help relax tight muscles, relieve tension, and reduce discomfort from injuries or stiffness.

2. Improved range of motion

The support of water allows for greater freedom of movement. This helps increase flexibility and mobility in the joints, which is especially important if you are recovering from surgery or injury.

3. Increased strength and endurance

Moving through water creates natural resistance, which helps to strengthen muscles without putting stress on the body. This resistance is adjustable, so exercises can be tailored to your strength and rehabilitation needs.
Regular aquatic exercises can improve muscle tone, strength, and stamina over time.

4. Rehabilitation of injured or weak muscles

Hydrotherapy is effective in re-educating muscles that are weak, injured, or even paralysed. The water’s supportive environment allows individuals to perform exercises that would be difficult or painful on land, enabling gradual muscle reactivation and recovery.

5. Improved circulation and cardiovascular health

Water's hydrostatic pressure helps promote better circulation, reducing swelling and improving blood flow. This is particularly beneficial for people with poor circulation, oedema, or heart conditions.
Hydrotherapy also offers a low-impact cardiovascular workout, which improves heart and lung health without the stress of high-impact activities.

6. Enhanced balance and coordination

The unstable nature of water challenges the body’s balance, helping to improve stability and coordination. This is particularly helpful for individuals with neurological conditions or balance disorders, such as those recovering from stroke, head injury, or spinal cord injury.

7. Reduced risk of injury

The buoyancy of water reduces the effect of gravity so there is less stress on joints and muscles. This makes aquatic therapy safer for individuals who are recovering from surgery or injury, or those with conditions that limit their mobility, such as arthritis or fibromyalgia.

8. Mental wellbeing and stress reduction

The soothing effects of water can have a calming impact on the mind, reducing anxiety, stress, and depression. Hydrotherapy promotes relaxation, which can be beneficial for both physical recovery and mental health.
The calming environment of a pool can also improve sleep and overall mood, which contributes to a quicker recovery process.