Hydrotherapy: Know What Is Hydrotherapy And Diseases That Can Be Cured By The Process

It refers to a number of techniques that make use of the physical characteristics of water, such as its pressure and temperature, to promote blood flow and alleviate the symptoms of certain illness.

Using hydrotherapy to promote blood flow and alleviate the symptoms of certain illness. ( Image Source :Getty )

New Delhi: A subspecialty of complementary medicine, occupational therapy, and physical therapy, hydrotherapy involves using water to treat and relieve pain. The word refers to a wide range of techniques and treatments that make use of the physical characteristics of water, such as its pressure and temperature, to promote blood flow and alleviate the symptoms of certain illnesses.

For instance, it might be used to treat long-term illnesses like fibromyalgia and arthritis as well as short-term skin problems like burns and septic ulcers. 

The Benefits Of Hydrotherapy:

Physiotherapists use the technique of hydrotherapy to cure a wide range of illnesses:

1. Chronic Pain: Patients who suffer from any kind of chronic pain are advised to use hydrotherapy as part of their treatment plan. By encouraging natural mobility, lengthening muscles, and boosting their strength and control, hydrotherapy lessens discomfort. Fibromyalgia, complicated regional pain syndrome, and chronic musculoskeletal disorders are among the conditions that may benefit from hydrotherapy.

2. Mental Health: Hydrotherapy may be a wonderful method to calm the mind, comfort the body, and enhance the overall health of the body when we are feeling stressed and overburdened by the craziness of life. For thousands of years, societies have utilised hydrotherapy to relieve aches and pains, cure a wide range of illnesses, and enhance general health and well-being. People who use hydrotherapy have discovered that after approximately 15 minutes, their entire body starts to relax. This time can be used to sit quietly and breathe deeply to help us calm our thoughts as we soak.

3. Cardiovascular Conditions: Hydrotherapy can help pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. The buoyancy of the water makes it possible to train the heart and lungs less vigorously and gently, which significantly accelerates the rate of recovery. Hydrotherapy can be used to improve older patients' muscular and cardiopulmonary endurance, as well as for rehabilitation, following chronic heart failure or a respiratory illness flare-up.

4. Arthritis: Hydrotherapy may also help some forms of arthritis sufferers. For instance, one study discovered that eight weeks of aquatic training significantly improved knee function and pain indicators in persons with osteoarthritis.

Another research discovered that persons with rheumatoid arthritis who exercised in the water at moderate intensity while taking their medicine saw improvements in their illness indicators, including decreased levels of oxidative stress.

Types of Hydrotherapy:

Depending on a person's health objectives, a doctor, physical therapist, or alternative health professional can advise on the optimal sort of hydrotherapy.

1. Water circuit therapy:  A kind of hydrotherapy called water circuit treatment combines various water therapy methods.

• Warming and massaging stiff muscles for 10 to 20 minutes in a hot tub.
• 10 minutes in the sauna to promote perspiration and raise blood circulation.
• Soaking in a chilly bath for ten to twenty minutes to lower body temperature
• Spending ten minutes in a cold bath to ease discomfort, decrease inflammation, and improve your mood

2. Aquatic Exercise: Low-impact physical activity known as aquatic exercise is usually performed in a pool with specialised equipment. It enables people to exercise their muscles and speed up their heart rates without significantly straining their joints.

These exercises are excellent for elderly persons who may be at a higher risk of falling or who just find working out in a low-impact setting simpler, as well as for those with arthritis or fibromyalgia.

3. Aquatic Massage: Aquatic massage is simply the one that happens in the water. Aquatic massages, which patients receive while floating in a soothing pool of water, are a common service offered by spas and health facilities.

However, one may simply have an aquatic massage at home. All that is needed is a volunteer and access to a hot tub, pool, or bathtub. Yet, it would be preferable to contact a qualified physical therapist if one has any ailments before performing any aquatic massage at home.

4. Saunas:

Saunas are comparable to steam baths but vary in that they employ dry heat as opposed to moist heat. Similar to wet heat, dry heat has a variety of health advantages. Their advantages consist of:

• Pain reduction:  Saunas' dry heat helps relax muscles and joints, easing pain from accidents, strenuous activity, or medical illnesses like arthritis.
• Lessened Tension: Similar to steam rooms, the heat of saunas can aid in the release of endorphins and reduction in stress.
• Improved cardiovascular condition: Regular sauna users have been reported to have a reduced mortality rate and a decreased risk of cardiovascular events like heart attacks. Additionally, saunas may aid in lowering blood pressure and enhancing heart health.
• Skin improvement: People with illnesses like psoriasis may see an improvement in their skin since saunas dry up the skin.