Hydrotherapy

Independence through movement

Hydrotherapy can provide a critical part of the allied health supports you receive to help you stay happy and healthy for those living with a range of physical and cognitive disabilities. 
 
Hydrotherapy is a type of physical therapy used to treat and manage various health related conditions via the engagement of various stretches, exercises, cardiovascular activities, muscle and joint relaxation techniques in a warm water pool. 
 
Hydrotherapy is provided at several designated locations around your local community in a speciality-built facility with heated water at approx. 33-36 degrees Celsius. 

What is hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy is a unique way of exercising the body in a low stress, low impact, self-regulating environment. Hydrotherapy can be less stressful for joints, bones and muscles as the water provides resistance in all directions without having direct impact with the ground. The effects of warm water provide a circulation boost through hydrostatic pressure, increase in metabolic rate to help burn more energy and a relaxation effect on muscles and the nervous system.  

The pool is regulated to a warm temperature of around 32-34 degrees. The additional benefits include; increase in circulation, relaxation of muscles and decrease in swelling, reduced muscle spasms, and reduce or remove pain, including arthritis pain. 

Hydrotherapy is ideal for participants with a disability who may be limited with mobility or movement in some or all parts of their body, or who have recently been cleared to return to exercise post-surgery. 

Hydrotherapy is often used by people with cerebral palsy as it can improve muscle strength whilst allowing freedom of movement, although the benefits of Hydrotherapy are not limited to people with specific neurological conditions. 

hydrotherapy hoist

Benefits of hydrotherapy: 

  • Improving gross motor skills such as strength, balance and coordination 

  • Improving fine motor skills such as grip, hand and finger strength 

  • Improving range of motion in joints 

  • Increasing aerobic capacity 

  • Improving blood circulation and swelling reduction  

  • Increasing cardiovascular load and tolerance  

  • Temporarily reducing neural tone and spasticity 

  • Low, Moderate or high intensity exercising without reduced pain or restricted movement 

  • Improving posture

Benefits of hydrotherapy go beyond the physical activity

If your disability impacts your physical and mental health than engaging in hydrotherapy can be liberating, improve your mood and overall health and wellbeing and increase your quality of life. 

Some other benefits of hydrotherapy include:

  • Strength training

  • Gait retraining

  • Balance exercises

  • Falls prevention

  • Assistive technology prescription

  • Weight management

  • Coordination for the upper limb including throwing, catching, hitting, holding and releasing

  • Coordination for the lower limb including walking, running, jumping, steps and stairs

  • Functional activity practice including sit to stand, showering, dressing, toileting, vehicle navigation

Hydrotherapy Supports 

  • Participants with a physical and/or cognitive disability can participate in Hydrotherapy.

    In order to safely participate in Hydrotherapy, the treating clinician will need to assess if the individual and their supports are appropriate for Hydrotherapy. Things requiring consideration include:

    • Ability to follow instructions / lead from therapist

    • Compliance with wound care / management

    • Continence management

    • Behaviours of concern

    • Anxiety or fears of water

    Participants requiring use of a powered hoist, wheelchair, slide board or other mobility devices can be accommodated with hydrotherapy with a treating therapist

  • There are many types and variations of exercises that a therapist may choose to complete during a session including:

    • Gentle movements - Walking, side stepping, marching, backwards walking

    • Balance - Including single leg balance, noodle balance

    • Cardiovascular – Including swimming, cycling, arm pumps

    • Limb mobility – Shoulder, wrist, hip and knee circles and bending

    • Spinal mobility – Neck, thoracic and lumbar twisting and bending

    • Relaxing – Floating, full body extension, spinal twisting

    • Functional movements – Squats, step ups, pushing and pulling, lifting, holding

    • Strengthening – bicep's, triceps, quads, glutes, calves using dumbbells, floats and resistance paddles

    • Water submersion – Picking up obstacles or targets under water

  • Initially the treating therapist may trial water immersion, tolerance to gentle activity and compliance with following instructions and therapist's lead. For some, we may need to start by visiting the pool and watching others participate before we can introduce getting into the pool. For others we can establish a prefilled exercise sheet that we can get straight into completing as a part of a short-term rehab journey.

  • What's the difference between hydrotherapy with a therapist compared to going into the pool on your own or with a support worker? For some this question can be the same as going to the gym. For some people they are knowledgeable and experienced about anatomy, physiology, the types of exercises, what the machines can do and how to use them safely, for others, they require the guidance of a personal trainer or fitness coach.

    With Hydrotherapy, the therapist is able to assess the right level for each individual to ensure the session is safe and effective in directly achieving your goals. This may lead to a level of independence over time, similar to how a personal trainer may at some point instruct you to start going to the gym on your own and using them as a check in point on a semi-regular basis.

  • Some of the public access pools include:

    • Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre

    • Ascot Vale Leisure Centre

    • Hawthorne Aquatic and Leisure Centre

    • Reservoir Leisure Centre

    • Coburg Leisure Centre

    • Brunswick Baths Leisure Centre

    • Keilor East Leisure Centre

    • St Albans Leisure Centre

  • Casual access to public pools is approximately $5 - $8 dollars for the participant. Those with Support Workers are with a carers card can access for free when supporting a participant.

    Access to facilities such as pool’s and gyms are generally not covered through NDIS funding unless prior approval is arranged.