What is hydrotherapy ?
Hydrotherapy, or aquatic therapy, are only two of the many names that can be used to indicate the use of water for healing or rehabilitation purposes. The use of water for therapy has expanded from merely treating the physically, mentally and neurologically impaired to include a vast number of different specialities.
The use of water as a healing medium dates back many centuries. Injured race horses have been rehabilitated in water for many years. The aquatic environment gets used to re-educate weak muscles and also for skill development.

Hydrotherapy does not refer to your everyday aquatic class which you might have witnessed at you local gym. It is a much more specialized water session where individuals with different conditions are dealt with. It is not advisable to offer hydrotherapy as a group fitness session where different special populations are all treated the same way. Each specific ailment in rehabilitation has its own treatment regime.

How is hydrotherapy used ?
A specific rehabilitation program is designed for every different medical condition. Certain clients only make use of a hydrotherapy program for a limited period of time, while others with more serious conditions utilize the sessions religiously. Hydrotherapy fills the gap between the physiotherapist and the patient's every day life. A well qualified hydrotherapist works closely with the patient's physiotherapist to create a safe and functional exercise program. The hydrotherapist continues treatment after the physiotherapist has completed the initial rehabilitation program and does under no circumstances replace physiotherapy. The programs are designed to assist in activities of daily living (ADL Programs) It is very obvious that every special medical condition has to be treated on a personal basis.

Who can benefit from hydrotherapy ?
Hydrotherapy is for everyone at some point in time of their lives. Whether you are an injured athlete, osteoporotic or simply deconditioned, the answer to your problem lies buried in the healing powers of water. Hydrotherapy is a special water program for a special medical condition and this makes it very different from your normal aqua class. Exercise in water is especially good for all joint injuries and osteoarthritis sufferers.

Some of the other treatment areas used include chronic pain management, back rehabilitation, acute orthopaedic or neuromuscular injury, rheumatological disease, neurological impairment, stress management and improvement in performing activities of daily living.