Hydrotherapy is a specific treatment process that uses water to manage multiple symptoms associated with various medical conditions. It is also known as aquatic therapy, pool therapy, or balneotherapy. This therapy can be a simple warm water bath or involve the use of a special pool with pressure jets, temperature variations, and ice packs.
The interesting part is that in the last two decades, hydrotherapy although classified as an alternative treatment, unregulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has gradually become a robust evidence-based treatment for managing many health conditions and has proven to alleviate symptoms such as muscle pain and joint stiffness.
Hydrotherapy and Neurological Conditions
Hydrotherapy has shown promising results for people dealing with neurological issues. Used in combination with other rehabilitation methods, this therapy helps people to carry out exercises and activities in the pool which they find challenging on land, and helps them reduce muscle spasms while increasing their strength. Hence the treatment goals set for land exercises are very easily achievable by the person due to the physical characteristics of warm water.
The neurological conditions that benefit from this therapy are:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Cerebro-Vascular Accident (stroke)
- Muscular dystrophy
- Parkinson’s disease
- Traumatic brain injury
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
Although the hydrotherapy exercises are similar for almost all neurological patients, an initial assessment is necessary. The program is then developed according to the severity of the condition and the person’s capacity and ability to comply with the treatment goals.
For example, a program with exercises that push patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease beyond their comfort level can slow the progression of the disease and ease down symptoms but in the case of Alzheimer’s patients, who find multitasking very challenging the same set of exercises can be detrimental.
Hence it is very important for physiotherapists who conduct hydrotherapy to be very experienced, skilled, and alert while dealing with patients with different neurological issues.
How Does Hydrotherapy Work?
Hydrotherapy sessions are carried out in specialized hydrotherapy pools.
The therapy works toward preventing soft tissue contractions, mobilizing joints that have become stiff, leveraging the buoyancy of water to improve muscle activity, developing better motor control, enhancing muscular strength and endurance, and providing a better quality of life through independence.
The warm water decreases joint stiffness and facilitates better mobility. Additionally, it also normalizes the tone of muscles and initiates their relaxation. Both these effects collectively help in reducing pain.
Water also provides resistance to help strengthen weak muscles and its buoyancy brings about passive stretching.
Next, the warm water pool offers a safe and secure environment for patients to practice balance and walking without falling and hurting themselves due to decreased weight. This makes it very easy for the physiotherapist also to handle the person reducing the risks of any mishaps.
What does Hydrotherapy Involve
Hydrotherapy is a personalized one-on-one therapy module. It is formulated and conducted by a team of highly experienced and trained physiotherapists based on the treatment goals and the physical capacity of the person.
The program includes strengthening exercises to overcome the resistance effect, stretching exercises, and relaxation in warm water. It also involves functional activities like reaching out to and grasping floating objects in the water. All the exercises are supervised and conducted by physiotherapists who accompany the patient in the pool at all times.
Sukino Healthcare offers specialized and personalized hydrotherapy with no waiting lists and very flexible schedules that are easy to fit into the schedules and lifestyles of people.
Our team of well-trained and experienced neurological physiotherapists conducts a thorough initial assessment and devises a program best suited to every individual for the best results with constant progress evaluation.
Our hydrotherapy center is a private pool with wheelchair access and is fully equipped to ensure the safety of patients at all times.
