Why Hydrotherapy Is Good for You

Hydrotherapy has been around for hundreds of years, and it has remained a vital part of traditional medicine. However, few people know about hydrotherapy and how it helps their health. Here is what you need to know about hydrotherapy and why it is good for you.

 

What Is Hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy is the practice of using water to cure an illness or preserve health. It involves doing some exercises inside a hydrotherapy pool to treat various body conditions, both inside and outside the body.

 

Hydrotherapy pools are different from the typical swimming pool in many ways. To begin with, the work of a hydrotherapy pool is to offer a therapeutic environment that helps heal wounds and bring back your health. 

 

A hydrotherapy pool is different because of its water temperature. The water temperature is usually around 91 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hotter than a typical swimming pool that is not warmer than 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmer temperature from the water introduces heat to your body, which overrides or numbs the feeling of pain, making it easy for you to move and exercise with comfort.

 

Benefits of Hydrotherapy

Most people will agree that taking a warm bath after a long day is quite relaxing. That is exactly how a hydrotherapy pool feels. The warm water helps relax your muscles and body, and in doing so, helps relieve the following symptoms:

 

Pain 

Research shows that spa treatments using warm water have helped reduce pain significantly in people with chronic illnesses of the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and soft tissues. The warm water may relieve the pain, ease muscle discomfort, and enhance blood flow, relieving discomfort in the injured area.

 

Arthritis

Studies have found that people with arthritis who do warm-water exercises while taking their medication showed improvement in the control of the illness. The patients experienced better knee function and reduced oxidative stress.

 

Pregnancy Aches 

Warm water therapy may ease the general aches that pregnancy can bring. Besides, some mothers have used warm water baths to ease pain and boost relaxation during water births. Studies have also shown that hydrotherapy helps improve the following:

 

Respiration

The hot water makes the room steamier. Inhaling this steam may help ease mucus and relieve inflamed blood vessels inside your nose. While the steam may not cure a respiratory infection, it will help you feel much better as your body fights off the infection.

 

Circulation

The warm water heats your body and helps expand your blood vessels, boosting circulation. Improved circulation may lower the risk of heart disease and reduce your blood pressure.

 

Mental Health

The CDC notes that warm water therapy boosts moods and helps ease anxiety in people. Patients with fibromyalgia, for instance, find that hydrotherapy helps control fatigue and anxiety.

 

How Can You Access Hydrotherapy?

Many hospitals have hydrotherapy pools or access to them. If your doctor thinks you may benefit from warm water therapy, they can refer you to a certified physiotherapist in your area. The physiotherapist will then check whether hydrotherapy will work for you.


 

To learn more about hydrotherapy and why it is good for you, contact BL Spa at our office in Glendale, Arizona. You can call us at (608) 888-4626 to book an appointment today.