Hydrotherapy is the healing power of water. In the past few years, many physical therapists, chiropractors, and doctors have noticed the healing power of water when it comes to pain and injuries. In fact, the Arthritis Foundation has determined that water therapy is beneficial for relieving arthritis pain and stiffness.

For rehabilitation, water exercise eliminates the stress gravity places on injured body systems. Immersing in warm water raises your body temperature, causing your blood vessels to dilate, which in turn increases circulation. 

Water pressure enhances the return of lymphatic fluid and venous blood, stimulating circulation and reducing swelling in injured areas. Water viscosity allows you to regulate movements easily and avoid pain or over-exercising.

Water has a high specific heat, a quality which carries heat to injured tissues, further reducing inflammation and stimulating circulation, as well as increasing joint mobility and flexibility. Immersion in hot water induces relaxation and stimulates the brain to release serotonin, a substance which provides a feeling of psychological well-being and aids sleep, a much-needed quality for those recovering from injuries.

In addition to relieving the pain of Arthritis, water therapy—soaking in warm water with the aid of therapy jets—is also beneficial for many people with back pain, knee pain, wrist pain and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, neck pain, and foot pain.

Hydrotherapy and hydrothermal therapy are chiefly used to tone up the body, to stimulate digestion, the circulation, and the immune system, and to bring relief from pain.

When you submerge yourself in a bath, a pool, or a whirlpool, you experience a kind of weightlessness. Your body is relieved from the constant pull of gravity. Water also has a hydrostatic effect. It has a massage-like feeling as the water gently kneads your body. Water, in motion, stimulates touch receptors on the skin, boosting blood circulation and releasing tight muscles.

Find Out More:

Science of Hydrotherapy | Health Benefits of Hydrotherapy | The Aquatic Fitness System | What Is Aquatic Fitness?