Aquatic Therapy (Hydrotherapy)

What is Aquatic Therapy?

Aquatic therapy is exercise in a heated pool (32–36°C)

What are the benefits?

Patients frequently find it easier to move in the water, often with relief from their symptoms, both acute and long-standing problems. Patients that are restricted by pain on land can often start some exercises in water without pain, partly due to reduced muscle spasm in the water.

The buoyancy of the water can assist in gaining movement as well as the resistance of the water helping to strengthen muscles. Hydrotherapy alongside land based treatment can help some patients to achieve their goals more quickly.

Hydrotherapy can also give some patients a sense of independence, where they might rely on walking aids on land, they can mobilise without in the water. Hydrotherapy can also improve one’s general feeling of well being.

Aquatic Therapy Access

• Click here to find out who we can treat
  
  
• We have specific acceptance criteria for aquatic therapy as it is not appropriate for all patients—if you feel aquatic therapy would be beneficial for your problem, your appropriateness for this can be evaluated—all patients must be screened or assessed for their appropriateness for aquatic therapy before being referred to exercise in the pool
  
  
• We accept referrals from many specialities including orthopaedics, rheumatology, paediatrics, HIV, neurology and the community
  
  
• Inpatient physiotherapy teams also use the pool as required by their patients
  
  
• We also accept referrals from local community teams, ensuring a good working relationship and patient pathway
  
  
• We also hire the pool to external users eg Water Babies and Little Otters swimming groups and the Hydrotherapy Club

More information

• Aquatic Therapy Patient Information Sheet
• Hydrotherapy Club Information
• Information about your appointment