Hydrotherapy
What is Hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy, also referred to as Aquatic Physiotherapy, is a specific form of physiotherapy treatment conducted in a safe aquatic environment.
Hydrotherapy can help relieve pain, promote relaxation, mobilise joints, strengthen muscles, develop balance and coordination, and improve general fitness.
Hydrotherapy treatment (individually or in groups) incorporates individual assessment, diagnosis and the use of clinical reasoning skills to formulate a treatment program appropriate to each patient’s needs.
By combining hands-on pool based physiotherapy treatment techniques and specifically designed exercises, supervised by physiotherapists with specific training in Aquatic Physiotherapy/ Hydrotherapy, it helps regain or enhance physical wellbeing in a warm relaxing environment.
How does it work?
A series of gentle therapeutic exercises (distinct from swimming or aqua-aerobics) carried out in a heated pool (34°C) allow greater comfort and range of movement as the water supports body weight. Therapeutic exercises can be progressed safely using the resistance of the water to strengthen the muscles and improve stability.
The warmth increases circulation, reduces muscle-spasm, and helps to relieve pain.
Patients do not need to be able to swim in order to benefit from hydrotherapy. The pool we use is only 1.2m in depth.
When:
Tuesdays & Thursdays
- 1st class – 2.00pm to 2.45pm
- Treatment Session – 2.45pm to 3.30pm
- 2nd class – 3.30pm to 4.00pm
Where:
A private indoor heated pool at Arcadia Waters, Burslem Drive, Maddington.
All enquiries, bookings and payments are made through Maddington Physiotherapy Centre reception on 9459 5777.
What are some of the properties of warm water?
- Warmth
- Buoyancy
- Resistance
- Turbulence
- Hydrostatic pressure
What are the therapeutic benefits of exercise in warm water?
- Muscular relaxation and decreased muscle spasm.
- Decreased pain due to warmth and support. Gravity is countered by buoyancy.
- Increased muscle strength and endurance due to the greater resistance in water.
- Improvement in swelling, due to hydrostatic pressure.
- Enhanced balance and stabilisation.
- Improved enjoyment and confidence to move better.
Hydrotherapy may be used alone or in conjunction with other rehabilitation programs.
An aquatic program is often a stepping stone for patients to progress on to gym or land based exercise programs.
The rehabilitation program can also include appropriate exercises to maintain fitness, while recovering from sports injuries or orthopaedic surgery.
What conditions can Hydrotherapy benefit?
Some of the many conditions that can benefit from an individualised Hydrotherapy program include:
- Back pain/sciatica/lumbar instability
- Whiplash & other neck pain
- Sports injuries
- Tendinopathy
- Balance/coordination and falls prevention
- Shoulder and arm pain
- Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis & fibromyalgia
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Improved general fitness and flexibility
- Back & pelvic pain during pregnancy
- Work & accident related injuries
- Rehabilitation after bone fractures, joint replacement or tendon repair
Hydrotherapy has been shown to bring pain relief, combined with long lasting improvements in joint mobility and muscle strength.
