What is Hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy is the use of exercises in water as part of the treatment of different conditions. It differs from just swimming because it involves exercises specific to your needs. Hydrotherapy helps relieve pain, relax and strengthen muscles, increase circulation and subsequently improve function. This type of treatment allows anyone with limited mobility to maximise their mobility within the water. Studies have shown that hydrotherapy can improve strength and general fitness in people with various types of conditions, including arthritis.
How does Hydrotherapy work?
Using an understanding of the unique principles of water, like buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, cohesion, and viscosity. Complete Conditioning can help you through activities that would otherwise be challenging on land.
Water holds a number of physical characteristics that make hydrotherapy such an effective method of treatment:
- Heating effect – the warm water helps to relax your muscles and reduce any muscle spasms. The heat of the water also enhances circulation of blood round the body which is vital in speeding up the healing process.
- Sedative effect – the warm water produces an effect that blocks pain pathways to the brain acting as a pain reliever and making exercise feel easier than it normally is.
- Buoyancy effect – water supports the body, allowing it to float. This relieves stress on weight-bearing joints, allowing patients unable to weight bear the opportunity to do so without worry of further injury.
- Reduced gravitational forces – Reduced gravity allows movement of joints which may usually be limited as there is less resistance against them.
- Resistance and Viscosity effect
At Complete Conditioning, we work with you to plan an effective hydrotherapy programme.
Hydrotherapy is available both in Harrogate and Leeds with Complete Conditioning, so if you think that you may benefit from hydrotherapy sessions then please contact us by clicking the link below.
