Hydrotherapy or water therapy is an additional therapy that uses water to heal the body. There are many uses for it, including treatment of joint ache and reducing stressed muscles with hot baths or showers.
Hydrotherapy may be used as a short-term treatment for skin issues like peptic ulcers and burns or for chronic health issues like fibromyalgia and arthritis.
Hydrotherapy may involve sitting in a warm bath at home or visiting a specialist’s location and using their equipment like a cold sauna. Other hydrotherapy equipment includes hot tubs, whirlpool spas, physical therapy tanks, and swimming pools.
The procedure for each patient varies and it depends on the practitioner and the patient’s treatment. It can be of aid for both physical and mental health.
What Are the Health Benefits of Hydrotherapy?
- Lowers ache
Spa therapy with warm water, according to a review, helped reduce pain in people with chronic illness on the connective tissues and musculoskeletal system.
Warm water alleviates the pain signals, relaxes the muscles, boosts the blood flow, and decreases the pain in the area.
- Alleviates the symptoms of arthritis
Arthritic individuals may benefit from hydrotherapy; there are studies that have found it effective in reducing the pain and function markers in people with osteoarthritis.
Studies with people who had rheumatoid arthritis who did aquatic exercise while on their meds indicate that they experienced an improvement in the illness’s markers and helped them decrease their oxidative stress.
- Betters the mental health
According to the CDC, water activities may be of aid for mental health.
People with fibromyalgia have benefitted from aquatic exercise and experienced reduced depression and anxiety. Moreover, many people say swimming helps them reduce tension and lifts up their spirits.
- Mental and physical relaxation
Hydrotherapy forms encourage relaxation, a physical and a mental one.
Warm water is known to reduce muscle tension and promote a relaxed state of mind.
- Good for pregnant women
Hydrotherapy may soothe general pain caused by pregnancy. Some women also opt for some type of hydrotherapy during a water birth to encourage relaxation and decrease labor ache.
What Types of Hydrotherapy Are There?
- Aquatic workout
This low-impact physical activity is done in a pool with specialist equipment.
It helps people work their muscles and boost the heart rate without stressing the joints. They’re recommendable for arthritis and fibromyalgia sufferers, as well as for elderly people who’re at a higher risk of falls.
- Sitz baths
This shallow bath is taken in warm or cold water. They’re recommendable for hemorrhoids relief or cramps.
- Sauna
Saunas may be dry or wet, but there are also refrigerated or cool saunas. You sit in a room where the temperature is set to either humid or dry air.
- Water circuit therapy
This therapy or contrast hydrotherapy includes going through several types of hydrotherapy and alternating between cold and warm water with the aim to boost the blood flow and relieve the symptoms.
It may include cold plunges, cool baths, dry or wet sauna, and warm baths.
- Wraps and compresses
These compresses use hot, warm, or cold water as hydrotherapy to promote relief from milder symptoms and promote treatment.
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