What is Hydrotherapy and what are the benefits?

Hydrotherapy involves therapeutic exercise in warm water to treat different health conditions and is conducted by a qualified health professional.

The pool is heated to around 35 degrees Celsius to promote relaxation and pain relief, whilst the hydrostatic pressure assists in promoting circulation. Exercising in water has all the same additional benefits of exercising on land, but the principles of water can be used to effect exercise intensity. For example, buoyancy makes the body feel lighter and enables patients to do exercises that they are unable to do on land. Alternatively, water turbulence and equipment (such as noodles, floats and kickboards) can be used to increase the difficulty level of exercises. Because of these factors, patients are able to exercise, build muscle strength and improve function, without flaring up their pain levels.

Who can benefit from Hydrotherapy?

Common conditions that benefit from hydrotherapy include:

• Arthritis
• Back pain
• Post-surgery (e.g. knee/hip replacements, ACL reconstructions, shoulder reconstructions, spinal surgery, Achilles repair)
• Chronic pain & Fibromyalgia
• Neurological conditions
• Frail/deconditioned and clients who are prone to falls

Hydrotherapy exercise programs through Total Physiocare are individually prescribed and tailored specifically for our clients to assist with their condition.

How do I go about joining Hydrotherapy?
If you are a new client to Total Physiocare, we require that you attend an assessment at one of our clinics prior to commencing the class. This ensures that we are aware of the details of your injury or condition, as well as your medical history, water confidence level and rehabilitation goals.

If you are a current client of Total Physiocare, your Physiotherapist can hand these details over to their colleague who will be taking the class.

I’ve recently had surgery, when can I commence Hydrotherapy?

You can start hydrotherapy once your dressings are removed and the wound has closed over with no signs of infection. Generally, this occurs by the 2 to 3 week post-operative mark. Since you’ve had surgery, it is likely that you will already be attending physiotherapy for your rehabilitation, and your Physiotherapist will be able to let you know when it is safe to go in the pool.

Our group hydrotherapy classes are conducted at Reservoir Leisure Centre on Tuesdays and Fridays from 12-1pm.

Please contact our Reservoir clinic on 9469 3157 to organise an assessment or for more details.

Blog Post by Emily Shortal