Hydrotherapy B.Nelson

What is hydrotherapy ?  The treatment of physical disability,injury or illness by immersion, of all or part of the body in water to facilitate movement,promote wound healing, relieve pain and maintain health

Physical properties of water  Buoyancy  Resistance  Hydrostatic pressure  Specific heat and thermal conductivity

Specific heat & thermal conductivity  The ability of water to transfer heat rapidly and efficiently is one of the advantages of performing exercises in a swimming pool that is colder than the patient’s temperature

Buoyancy  Force experienced as an upward thrust on the body in the opposite direction to the force of gravity  Submersion of the body decresaes stress and compression on the weight bearing joints,muscles and connective tissue

Buoyancy cont’d  Used to assist the therapist in supporting the weight of the patient’s body part during therapeutic activities  Used to help raise a weakened part against gravity

Resistance  The viscosity of water provides resistance to the motion of a body in the water  Resistance occurs against the the direction of movement  Resistance increases with the speed of the body’s movement and the frontal area of the body part.

Hydrostatic pressure  Pressure exerted by a fluid on the body immersed in the fluid.  According to Pascal’s Law a fluid exerts equal pressure on all surfaces of a body at rest at a given depth and the pressure increases in proportion to the depth of the fluid

Hydrostatic Pressure cont’d  Immersion in water can assist in promoting circulation and alleviating peripheral oedema  Greatest effect with the vertical position

Physiological effects  Are due to the physical properties of water  The effects are:  Cleansing  Musculoskeletal effects  Cardiovascular effects  Respiratory effects  Psychological effects

Uses of hydrotherapy  Superficial heating or cooling  Water exercise  Pain control  Oedema control  Wound care

Water exercise- types  Swimming  walking  Running  Cycle ergometry  Underwater treadmill

Uses of water exercise  Increase circulation  Increase muscle strength  Joint flexibility and range of movement  Improve ambulation and coordination  Improve cardiovascular and respiratory conditioning

Specific uses of water exercise  Orthopaedic rehabilation  Neurological rehabilitation  Cardiorespiratory fitness  Exercise in water during pregnancy

Specific uses of water exercise  Exercise induced asthma  Age-related deficits

Uses of Hydrotherapy cont’d  Pain control  Oedema control  Wound care

Contraindications of hydrotherapy  Pease Read text book

Adverse effects of hydrotherapy  Drowning  Infection  Hyponatremia  Aggravation of edema

Recommended reading  Physical Agents in Rehabilitation by Michelle Cameron