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Hydrotherapy: The Healing Power of Water: A Look at Clinical Applications
This comprehensive guide to hydrotherapy will answer all your questions. Why do clinicians use hydrotherapy? Hydrotherapy is good for what conditions? What is the science behind underwater treadmill hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy in Medical Practices 101
Hydrotherapy is an effective rehabilitation tool used by many disciplines, including physical therapy, occupational therapists, chiropractors, and sports medicine.
Water is a great tool for rehabilitation, conditioning, recovery and mobility.
Buoyancy allows patients to move more freely, regardless of their mobility level. Hydrotherapy is also a good treatment option for patients at risk of falling.
* Hydrostatic pressure exerts a uniform pressure on the entire body. This can improve circulation and reduce swelling.
The use of weights, other tools and viscosity can increase the difficulty level in strength training.
Thermoplastic properties allow therapists the ability to provide both hot and cool treatments depending on patient requirements.
Hydrotherapy has many benefits for patients, including:
* For sore muscles, muscles that are in spasm and for joints.
* Increased circulation can help speed up recovery from injury or surgery, and reduce swelling.
Patients of all mobility levels can perform exercise easier with reduced joint stress.
Warm water therapy relaxes muscles and reduces tension.
Water’s properties can enhance flexibility by allowing for a greater range of motion.
Water resistance can improve strength and endurance when used for muscle conditioning exercises.
Water can be a great way to promote mental health and recovery.
Hydrotherapy has become more accessible in recent years thanks to innovations in underwater treadmills. Large clinics and athletic training facilities often have both pools as well as underwater treadmills in order to maximize the versatility of their hydrotherapy program. Underwater treadmills are more versatile with features like jets, adjustable speed treadmills, easy temperature control, and variable depths.
This comprehensive guide will dive deep into the technology of underwater treadmills and their clinical applications, including for athletes, seniors and arthritic patients. It also covers rehabilitation, sports medicine and weight loss. This guide will also cover how to build underwater treadmill workouts and what to look for when selecting the right underwater treadmill to use in your practice.
Benefits of Underwater Treadmill
Underwater treadmills are a great way to treat many different types of patients. They are popular in many medical specialties because of their small footprint and versatility. Underwater treadmills can be used for three main purposes:
1. Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
Underwater treadmills are a popular choice for exercise after surgery and non-surgical conditions like arthritis.
2. Training and Conditioning for Athletics
Underwater treadmills are a great way to increase cardiovascular endurance and muscle strength. Water’s properties can help athletes continue training during injury. Hydrotherapy is a great way to achieve your conditioning goals and have fun.
3. Exercise is good for you
Patients of all ages can work out in a comfortable and low-impact environment with underwater treadmills.
The compact tank system of underwater treadmills allows them to be easily installed in any size practice without the need for special entryways or construction projects.
Underwater treadmills are not only beneficial to patients, but also to the practice.
After increasing their range and flexibility on the underwater treadmill, patients can achieve more in manual therapy sessions.
* Underwater treadmills allow practices to provide a more comprehensive range of services, including exercise programs and strength and conditioning for older patients.
* Underwater treadmills can drive cash-pay services.
They are very versatile and easy to use.
* Many clinicians who refer patients to hydrotherapy prefer to send them to a clinic that offers this type of treatment.
Underwater treadmill therapy has many benefits for patients, including mental health. Water-based exercises are relaxing and enjoyable for many patients, and can help reduce stress and increase energy levels. They also improve mood and overall well-being.
Benefits of Underwater Treadmills for Specific Patient Populations
Athletes
Strength and conditioning, accelerated Recovery
Hydrotherapy is a popular treatment for athletic trainers. Underwater treadmills are versatile and support athletes recovering from an injury or activity. They can also be used to isolate muscle groups to strengthen and condition, as well as support endurance training.
The water provides a natural resistance that can be increased by adding jets and changing treadmill speeds. Weights, bands and other assistive equipment are often added by athletic trainers to create challenging hydrotherapy exercises.
All four sides of our underwater treadmills are covered with glass, giving athletic trainers a 360° view of the athlete. They can then provide coaching, and watch the athlete’s gait and movements.
Hydrotherapy improves circulation and increases flexibility and range-of-motion, which is crucial for both conditioning as well as recovery.
Seniors
Reduced risk of falling and improved mobility
Hydrotherapy underwater treadmills can be a great asset to occupational therapists and physical therapy professionals who treat aging patients. The entry and exit of underwater treadmills is easier for older patients than swimming pools.
Underwater treadmills are a great way to improve your muscle strength or rehabilitate an injury without having to worry about falling. The therapist can adjust the water temperature, treadmill speed, and depth to meet each patient’s goals.
Hydrotherapy is often enjoyable for older patients. It can improve the mood and confidence of older patients.
Injury Recovery
Reduced pain and faster healing
Hydrotherapy is a great way to help patients who have been injured by preventing muscle atrophy or joint stiffness, especially after major musculoskeletal or joint repairs. Warm water can reduce swelling and increase range of motion. Before entering the underwater treadmill, therapists cover damaged skin with waterproof coverings.
Hydrotherapy, depending on the type of recovery, can help patients gain balance and coordination while in a safe setting that minimizes the risk of falling.
As patients recover, they can increase the resistance by adjusting jets, water depth and treadmill speed.
Arthritis sufferers
Joint function improved with pain relief
Warm water that is soothing can be a great relief to arthritics. Buoyancy can reduce the impact of painful joints, and provide a comfortable environment to exercise and strengthen muscles. Exercise in a safe environment can help improve cardiovascular health for patients with arthritis. The underwater treadmill reduces joint strain and promotes overall health for patients with arthritis.
Hydrotherapy improves proprioception and can lead to better coordination, as well as improved joint stability. The therapists can modify exercises for water in order to meet patient-specific goals.
Patients undergoing physical therapy
Increased range of motion and comfort during rehabilitation
Hydrotherapy can be used to help patients achieve their goals, whether they are in physical therapy for muscle strengthening, rehabilitation from an injury, managing chronic pain, neurological conditions, or preventive care. Hydrotherapy can provide a more comfortable setting for patients to mobilize painful joint. Manual exercises performed on land can also be adapted. Hydrotherapy can improve range of motion and flexibility, which will allow patients to achieve more during their physical therapy sessions.
Hydrotherapy is a powerful way to relieve pain. Underwater treadmills are a great option for any size physical therapy clinic.
Performance
Strength and Conditioning
The underwater treadmill allows you to adapt hydrotherapy exercises for specific goals in strength and conditioning. Weights, fast treadmill speeds, and high jet resistance can be used in combination with deep water and high jet resistance to create challenging workouts.
You can target specific muscle groups to achieve results in a low impact environment. These programs are particularly useful for injured patients, who must continue strength and condition programs as they recover.
Weight loss
A safe exercise environment
Underwater treadmills are a great way to exercise for those with compromised joints, or for anyone who is unable to exercise safely on land. Weight loss can reduce strain on joints, and provide pain relief to aging patients or those with arthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders.
The exercises can be adapted easily to the patient’s needs, making them a useful tool for all.
Get Started with Underwater Treadmill Exercises
The intensity of the underwater treadmill exercise can vary depending on your patient’s or athlete’s needs. When developing your first hydrotherapy routine, consider the following:
Basic Exercises
Hydrotherapy is a great way to exercise. It can be used in a variety of ways, such as walking, running, or resistance training. These workouts are great for weight loss or strengthening and conditioning programs, as well as foundational wellness.
* Personalized fitness programs
Add fitness programs using hydrotherapy in your clinic. Consider the fitness level of your patients, their goals and any limitations they may have before developing an individualized program. Use assistive devices like pool noodles, ankle and wrist weights or weight belts to create fun, engaging workouts.
Weights
Exercises can be made more difficult by adding weights such as medicine balls, vests or belts with weights, wrist and ankle weights, etc.
* Depth of Water
When combined with jets or treadmill belt speed, deeper water can make exercises more difficult.
* Buoyancy
To increase buoyancy, you can use pool noodles or buoyant safety vets.
* Gradual Progression
As with any exercise routine, you should gradually increase the intensity of your workouts.
Jets
Jets can be used to add resistance and increase the level of difficulty in your workouts.
* Speed
You can adjust the speed of the underwater treadmill belt to increase your workout intensity.
Selecting the Best Underwater Treadmill
No longer are large clinics or expensive construction projects required to install underwater treadmills. Our underwater treadmills can be installed through standard-sized clinic doors without major modifications. Consider these factors when selecting the right underwater treadmill:
Footprint
It is important to consider the practice’s overall goals.
* Depth of Water
Ideal underwater treadmills will allow you to adjust the water depth, so that it is easier or harder for you depending on your fitness level.
Maintenance
Belts that can be lifted vertically make it easy for people of all sizes and strengths to clean. You should understand your underwater treadmill’s ongoing maintenance requirements and make sure that the design makes it easy to maintain.
* Incline
The ability to adjust the incline of underwater treadmills allows for maximum treatment customization. The belt can also move forward and backward in both water and without it if desired.
* Speed
Make sure that your underwater treadmill can be adjusted in small increments. You can treat athletes as well as geriatrics with this device.
Water Temperature Control
Many hydrotherapy treatments require warm water. Make sure that your underwater treadmill can be adjusted to the temperature you prefer.
Easy to Use
Some underwater treadmills come with touch screens that can be programmed to remember your favorite settings.
* Storage Tank Requirements
Check if you need a separate tank of water for your underwater treadmill. Some underwater treadmills are equipped with dual chambers, eliminating the requirement for a separate water tank.
Hydrotherapy is a field in which our team has extensive experience. We look forward to helping you choose the best underwater treadmill for your home, practice, fitness center or gym.