Benefits of Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is a form of aquatic physiotherapy. Our team at Malvern East Physiotherapy conducts hydrotherapy in the specific warm water pool at Harold Holt Swim Centre on a Friday morning. We will be recommencing hydrotherapy with Vernon Mittal with our Covid-Safe plan on the 18th of February.

Key highlights

• Hydrotherapy uses warm water exercises to reduce pain and improve muscle strength for injury recovery and chronic conditions.
• Water’s buoyancy and pressure help reduce joint stress, inflammation, and promote faster healing.
• It offers cardiovascular benefits and supports mental relaxation by boosting circulation and reducing stress.

What is Hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy (also called aquatic therapy) is a form of physiotherapy performed in warm water pools, typically heated to a comfortable 34-36°C. Unlike your standard lap swimming, hydrotherapy involves specific exercises and movements designed by physiotherapists to address particular health conditions or injuries.

The practice isn’t new—various forms of water therapy have been used for thousands of years across different cultures. From ancient Roman baths to Japanese onsen, humans have long recognised water’s therapeutic properties. Today’s hydrotherapy, however, combines this historical wisdom with modern medical knowledge for targeted rehabilitation and pain management.

At physiotherapy centres throughout Melbourne, hydrotherapy sessions typically last 30-60 minutes and are conducted in specially designed pools equipped with handrails, steps, and sometimes jets for resistance training. These sessions are supervised by qualified physiotherapists who tailor exercises to each patient’s specific needs.

What are the benefits of hydrotherapy?

Pain Relief and Reduced Inflammation

One of the most significant benefits of hydrotherapy is its ability to reduce pain. The warmth of the water helps increase blood flow to sore or injured areas, which can significantly decrease pain signals. According to research from the Arthritis Foundation, patients with conditions like arthritis often report up to 40% reduction in pain following regular hydrotherapy sessions.

The hydrostatic pressure of water also helps reduce inflammation and swelling, making it particularly beneficial for conditions like:

• Arthritis and joint inflammation
• Post-surgical recovery
• Sports injuries
• Chronic pain conditions
• Fibromyalgia

Improved Muscle Strength and Joint Mobility

Think your muscles can’t get a proper workout in water? Think again. Water provides natural resistance in all directions, making it an excellent medium for strengthening exercises. What’s more, this resistance is gentle on joints while still being effective.

For people recovering from injuries or surgery, hydrotherapy offers a safe way to rebuild muscle strength without putting excess stress on healing tissues. The buoyancy of water supports up to 90% of body weight, allowing for movement that might be impossible or painful on land.

Melbourne physiotherapists often recommend hydrotherapy for:

• Rebuilding strength after prolonged inactivity
• Improving range of motion in stiff joints
• Enhancing balance and coordination
• Supporting recovery from muscle tears or strains

Cardiovascular Benefits

Don’t underestimate the cardiovascular workout you can get in a hydrotherapy pool. The resistance of water makes your heart and lungs work harder, even during relatively gentle movements. For those who find land-based cardio exercises challenging due to joint pain, weight issues, or injury, hydrotherapy provides a low-impact alternative that still delivers cardiovascular benefits.

Regular hydrotherapy sessions can help:

• Improve heart health
• Enhance lung capacity
• Boost circulation
• Support weight management goals

Mental Health and Relaxation

Let’s not forget the psychological benefits. There’s something inherently calming about being in warm water, and research supports this feeling. Hydrotherapy has been shown to reduce stress hormones and promote the release of endorphins—those natural mood elevators we all love.

For patients dealing with chronic pain, the mental health benefits can be as important as the physical ones. Pain often comes with anxiety and depression, creating a vicious cycle that’s difficult to break. The relaxation and pain relief provided by hydrotherapy can help interrupt this cycle.

How does hydrotherapy work?

Using the unique benefits of water, hydrotherapy can be incredibly beneficial.

The buoyancy of water supports the body, decreasing the amount of stress and force going through your joints. The depth of the water affects the amount of weight that can be reduced. When standing in different depths, it alters the body weight that is going through the body. For example, when standing in waist deep water, you off-load 50% of your body weight. These changes in force can allow you to perform movements and exercises with less discomfort and greater ranges of motion.

In addition, the water temperature in the hydrotherapy pool varies between 30 – 35 degrees. The warmth of the water can not only reduce pain and stiffness, but can improve circulation resulting in decreased swelling. The constant pressure provided by water also provides a mild compressive effect. This aids circulation and lymphatic drainage that can promote faster healing and recovery. The deeper the body part is in water, the greater the pressure and compression. This is often why hydrotherapy can be very beneficial in the recovery of lower limb injuries or surgery around the foot, ankle and knee.

How do I start hydrotherapy?

Prior to getting into the water, your physiotherapist will complete a comprehensive land-based assessment onsite at the clinic. This will ensure that we can safely get into the water with a tailored and safe program.

Importantly, regardless of your swimming history, hydrotherapy can be done safely. It is usually very uncommon to submerge your head under water. Your feet are also regularly on the floor ensuring that regardless of your swimming capacity it can be done safely.

What if I can’t get to the pool on a Friday morning?

We are currently utilising the Hydrotherapy pool on a Friday morning. We understand that this timetable doesn’t always suit everyone’s schedule. If you are unable to attend the pool on a Friday, please contact us for an alternate arrangement. Our team can organise alternate options including telehealth which we have done successfully with pool closures.

To learn more if hydrotherapy could be of benefit, contact our team today. To organise your initial hydrotherapy appointment at the clinic book online. To learn more about hydrotherapy, call our friendly team.