What is water physiotherapy?
Water physiotherapy, also referred to as hydrotherapy, is a type of physiotherapy that includes the use of water during physical therapy. Water can provide greater durability for certain exercises and reduce the amount of gravity to reduce body weight. Water therapy also reduces the impact of exercise that leads to discomfort.
Pools and therapeutic bathtubs may be useful for patients who require physical therapy, but have limited mobility. Patients who have trouble walking or have leg injuries that reduce the amount of stress that can be placed on them can benefit from water physiotherapy. This form of therapy can also be used to strengthen weak muscles. Exercise with water therapy is beneficial for people suffering from a number of diseases that affect heart and circulation, such as obesity, heart attack or stroke and diabetes. Water physiotherapies performs in warm water, which almost corresponds to body temperature. The heat of water helps to release the muscles and soothe the painful areas. The patient may experience almost relaxationthe whole body. In addition, buoyancy helps reduce stress from damaged areas.
Water physiotherapy uses many equal exercises of physical therapy as water exercises. Specific exercises and sections are combined to create plans adapted to each patient. Due to the advantages that this type of physiotherapy can provide, it can also be used for children who have disabilities or are delayed in some areas of development. Water therapy can be adapted to help children with balance, motor skills and walking.
Among other areas that can be used to treat water physiotherapy, it can also be treated to teach water and swimming skills. Water safety skills can help with range and coordination. Water physiotherapy can also be used to teach a modified swimming method for patients with disabilities orinjuries that prohibit a full range of movement.
Although water physiotherapy can be beneficial to most patients, it may be dangerous for some. People who have open wounds or infection, fever or severe heart problems should not perform water therapy. Heat from water can also be dangerous for people on certain medicines, such as those for high blood pressure. It is important to make sure that the physiotherapist is aware of any existing or past health problems and all the drugs the patient is taking.