The Benefits of a Hydrotherapy Pool
When used under professional supervision, hydrotherapy can be an effective part of a holistic recovery plan. It incorporates the pain relief and healing properties of warm water with the benefits of exercise and physical therapy.
Unlike a swimming pool, hydrotherapy pools are typically warmer, with features like massage jets to boost wellness. Read on to learn more about the advantages of hydrotherapy.
Improved Circulation
Just like a hot bath or shower, the water in a hydrotherapy pool is warmer than the usual swimming pool. This makes your muscles and body more relaxed, helping to heal injuries and improve overall circulation.
When you’re in the warm water of a hydrotherapy pool, your blood vessels expand and your blood circulation is stimulated. This boosts your circulation, sending more oxygen and essential nutrients to damaged or injured muscles. The improved circulation also helps to take lactic acid away from the muscles, which reduces post-exercise soreness and muscle stiffness.
Hydrotherapy pools are ideal for people with injuries, disabilities or conditions that make it difficult to exercise on land. The buoyancy of the water and resistance jets in the pool can be adapted to suit a wide range of fitness needs, from walking to full-on swimming and jogging. Your physiotherapist will help you to decide which exercises are most suitable for you and your condition. Depending on your injury, they might prescribe low-impact cardiovascular or muscle strength exercises. They’ll be careful to avoid any movements that could cause further pain and damage to your joints and muscles.
Relieves Pain
Warm water can help soothe muscles that are sore and aching. It also stimulates the release of endorphins, which act as natural anxiety and stress busters. Additionally, the buoyancy of the water helps reduce pain from weight-bearing joints and improves movement. It’s also easier to stay upright in the water, which is great for people who are unsteady on their feet.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned athlete, hydrotherapy is safe for most people provided it’s done under the supervision of a professional. During sessions, you’ll be taught exercises and movements to undertake in the pool. You’ll need to tell your physiotherapist about any medical conditions and/or if you have certain medications that can affect your ability to participate in exercise.
If you’re experiencing chronic pain or have mobility and flexibility issues, Connect Health & Community in Bentleigh East has an onsite hydrotherapy pool. Book an appointment with our hydrotherapy pool physiotherapist or exercise physiologist to discuss how you can get the most out of your hydrotherapy sessions. Contact us on 03 9575 5333 or book online to get started.
Strengthens Muscles
If you’re unable to perform exercises on land due to pain or injury, pool-based exercise offers a safe and comfortable environment for muscle strengthening. Water’s buoyancy reduces your effective body weight by 80%, which means you can perform movement and stretching without putting too much pressure on your bones and joints. Depending on hydrotherapy pool the depth of the pool, you can increase or decrease resistance by changing the surface area that is submerged and by using tools like floats or pool noodles.
The compressive effect of the water aids in reducing oedema and swelling and increasing extracellular fluid transfer into muscles. It has also been shown to increase muscular strength up to 15 times greater than exercises on land.
Most hydrotherapy pools are larger than a normal swimming pool, and will be equipped with easy-to-use steps for entering and exiting, anti-slip flooring and grab handles around the pool to help you stay steady while exercising. They’ll often have a hoist if you need a lift to get in and out of the water, and they’ll be heated to improve comfort.
Improves Posture
A hydrotherapy pool is much different to a regular swimming pool or hot tub. These pools are specifically designed for therapeutic exercise and can be heated to the exact temperature required by the client. This allows the physiotherapist to facilitate specific exercises and treatments that would be difficult to do on land.
The warmth of the water helps to improve posture by reducing spasms and encouraging muscle relaxation. This will also help reduce pain and stiffness. The buoyancy of the water will help improve balance and coordination which is essential for people with injuries or disabilities who may be prone to falls.
This is especially beneficial for people who have had strokes and have lost the ability to balance. Studies show that hydrotherapy can significantly improve balance and walking function. It can even re-train the muscles that have been affected by a stroke to improve gait and balance. This is achieved by performing specific exercises such as ‘plank’ in the water using a foam noodle and keeping the feet on the ground, hold for 1-3 sets of 60 seconds.
Reduces Stress
In a hydrotherapy pool, the warm water helps reduce stress levels and can even help to improve sleep patterns. The warm temperature of the water also stimulates the release of endorphins which are natural stress fighters. This combination can help to relax muscles and boost moods leaving you feeling much better in general.
Hydrotherapy exercise is a gentle form of rehabilitation which can be used with clients who have a wide range of injuries or conditions. We have worked with a client with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, which is an epilepsy condition and they benefitted hugely from using the hydrotherapy pool.
It is ideal for people who have pain in their joints as the buoyancy of the water reduces the effective body weight by 80% making exercises less painful and easier to perform. It is also a great solution for people with back pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia and migraines. The resistance of the water also helps to strengthen and tone muscles as it increases the intensity of a workout. The turbulence created by the movement of the water also forces the core muscles to work harder to stabilise and maintain balance, improving posture.