Hydrotherapy or water therapy. Hydrotherapy makes use of the natural physical properties of water. All forms of hydrotherapy have a soothing effect on the body, reducing pain and relieving excessive muscle tension. In addition, underwater massage improves the functioning of the circulatory system. The whirlpool massage (whirlpool) is used to relieve pain, post-traumatic conditions and problems with the muscular-nervous system. Hydrotherapy has a swelling-reducing effect (e.g. after long-term immobilisation), reducing pain and muscle tension.
Water therapy is recommended for people with cerebral palsy, people with musculoskeletal problems or after injuries. It is recommended for both healthy people with the aim of increasing the general resistance of the organism or reducing stress, as well as for people suffering from a number of illnesses, including heart, circulatory and nervous system disorders or pain. It is one of the oldest treatment methods in physiotherapy. It uses the physical and chemical properties of water in solid, liquid and gaseous forms for therapeutic purposes. It is recommended both for healthy people to increase general immunity or reduce stress, and for those suffering from a number of illnesses.
Accordingly, indications for hydrotherapy are:
- heart diseases,
- cardiovascular diseases
- respiratory diseases
- chronic diseases of the locomotor system
- diseases of the digestive tract
- diseases of the reproductive organs,
- injuries,
- insomnia
Hydrotherapy – contraindications,
- psychoses,
- advanced anaemia,
- cachexia.