Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy, also called aquatic therapy or in-water rehabilitation, is a specialized form of physiotherapy carried out in a warm therapy pool, using the physical properties of water to reduce pain, make movement easier and allow safe rehabilitation. In water, buoyancy supports much of the body's weight and the load on painful joints falls sharply, so movements that are difficult or impossible on land become achievable, while the gentle resistance of the water builds strength. It is especially valuable for people who struggle to move on land and is widely used in international rehabilitation programmes to speed recovery after neurological and orthopaedic problems. Many patients travel abroad to access well-equipped therapy pools and an intensive, daily aquatic programme that would be hard to arrange close to home.