The major physiologic effects of hydrotherapy can be summarized as follows:
- Relaxes capillaries & other soft tissues
- Increases blood volume & oxygen consumption
- Relieves pain of myositis & neuritis
- Soothes irritated cutaneous nerves
- Lessens general nervousness
- Dilates blood vessels
- Soothes nerves of the visceral organs
- Increases circulation & metabolic rates
- Increases mobility
- Relaxes & relieves fatigue
- Analgesia
- Sedation
- Promotes tissue healing and repair
- Relieves muscle spasms and pain
- Helps remove metabolic toxins
The Hydrotherapy Process
FLOTATION
Water is extremely buoyant. When the body is placed on the water mattress, there is minimal strain on the weight-bearing joints.
Additionally, few if any muscles are required to hold the body up or in position. These two conditions combine to help the patient’s body relax resulting in an increased physiologic response to treatment.
HEAT
Heat is evenly conducted through the skin and into the muscles and soft tissues of the body. The heat expands blood vessels, increases blood and lymphatic circulation, increases metabolism and has a sedative effect.
MASSAGE
The pressure of the water on the body increases venous and lymphatic flow. One of the effects of the resulting stimulation is increased molecular motion in the skin that may aid the healing process. Hydromassage helps works out trigger points in the muscles, which are localized areas of hyperirritability that induce a cycle of spasm, pain, tension, weakness and limited range of motion in the joints.
Hydromassage focuses on the muscular system, the fascia, the circulatory and lymphatic systems or a combination of these body systems. Fascia is the connective tissue that attaches organs to organs, muscles to bones (tendons) and bones to bones (ligaments). The lymphatic system carries lymph, a clear or yellowish substance that flows throughout the body, filtering foreign matter and removing excess fluid, protein and waste products from the tissues and transporting them to the blood to be circulated and eliminated.
