Sometimes completing exercises on land can be challenging due to an injury being too painful, a complication with a medical condition or not being able to weight bear after a surgery. Rather than not completing any physiotherapy, hydrotherapy is something that can be used as a form of rehabilitation! Hydrotherapy has been used since the Romans back in the bathhouses so it must be good.

Hydrotherapy, also known as Aquatic Physiotherapy, utilises a heated therapy pool to relieve pain and treat musculoskeletal and neuromuscular injuries or illness. By utilising the various effects and properties of water (buoyancy, resistance, flow and turbulence), this allows patients to perform movements which may normally be difficult or impossible to do on land. This coupled with the prescription of a specific program has ultimately allowed physiotherapist to use hydrotherapy as a tool for facilitating movement and restoring function.

Water-based exercises can be varied by taking advantage of the different properties of water.

• Buoyancy: Floating equipment can be used to either keep yourself floating within deep water or a specific limb. If something can float better, then it will be harder to push it into the water therefore can make an exercise more challenging to do.
• Resistance: Changing what’s known as the drag of water can increase the resistance of water. Using larger pieces of equipment will make an exercise more challenging or even changing how your hand is shaped underwater can change how the exercise feels.
• Flow: Going into or with the flow of water can influence how the overall resistance feels. Like a flowing river or a current, if you go with the flow then you will move easier or running into it will be much more challenging.
• Turbulence: How rough or smooth the water is will change how an exercise is completed. For example, it will be easier to swim through still smooth water rather than in a therapy pool where the water is moving around a lot.

In addition to this, there are so many forms of exercise equipment that can be used like pool noodles, water dumbbells, kickboards, wobble boards, ankle weights and more! The kind of movements completed within hydrotherapy can be whole functional movements or narrowed down to specific isolated movements for a specific limb.

Overall, hydrotherapy is safe to do for all people! Even if you are not a confident swimmer, exercises can either be done in shallow water or floatation devices can be used to help with staying afloat. There have been reported benefits for those with:

Hydrotherapy offers benefits toward improving pain, strength, flexibility, function, balance and fitness. With the right treatment and program prescribed by our physiotherapist or exercise physiologist, you can also benefit from hydrotherapy. Remember, early intervention is key to preventing serious or chronic problems.

So, if you or someone you know wants to trial hydrotherapy, contact us today to schedule a comprehensive assessment and personalised treatment plan.

Our experienced physiotherapists are here to help you recover quickly and prevent future injuries.

Call us now on (02) 4721 1222 or book an appointment online.