Hydrotherapy, benefits

 The uniqueness of water lies mainly in its buoyancy, which relieves stress on weight bearing joints and Permits movement to take place with reduced gravitational forces. 

Other properties are of water in pool rehab:-
  • Hydrostatic pressure,
  • Surface tension
  • Hydrodynamics. 
The upward buoyancy exerts on an immersed body reduces the weight on the recovering muscles and joints in chronic arthritis. 
Buoyancy varies according to depth; the deeper it is, the lesser is the weight in comparison to land- weight. 
Hydrostatic pressure, which is the pressure exerted equally in all directions by the fluid on the surface of an immersed body in the water is used in management of edema. 
Force is necessary to overcome the viscosity of the water, or it's surface tension. 
This property of hydrodynamics can be used by progressively increasing resistance during strength training programs. 
Swimmers have extremely well developed Latissimus dorsi due to the property. In sports rehabilitation, the athletes are motivated to move their limbs Or swim faster through water, by which more muscle fibers are recruited and strength increases. 
The use of the Bad Raha technique in the rehabilitation of a child with spasticity, where proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation is used, utilizes tube or rings are used to support it in the water. Incorporation flotation devices to either assist or resist movement adds variety and interest to the treatment. 
The therapist provides the source of manual stability as well as resistance to a functional pattern of movement, typically by pushing or pulling against a movement that the child is making. Stability and resistance are promoted with the patient suspended at the surface. Like PNF technique on land, this enhances muscle activity to recruit the in active muscle into the functional movement pattern. 
The benefits of use an exercise pool are:
  • The relief of pain and muscle spasm, 
  • The maintenance or increase in range of motion of joints, 
  • The strengthening of weak muscles and an increase in their tolerance to exercise, 
  • The re-education of paralyzed muscles, 
  • The involvement of circulation
  • The encouragement of functional activities and
  • The maintenance and improvement of balance, co-ordination and posture. 
Some of the conditions which benefit from hydrotherapy:-
  1. Cerebral palsy and stroke
  2. Arthritis
  3. Poliomyelitis. 

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