Water has been one of the most effective elements in combating illness and injury since ancient times. Hydrotherapy, also called as hydropathy involves the use of water for pain relief and treatment. There are a lot of commercially available medicines that can treat almost any health problem but nothing can beat a natural treatment that uses water!
WHAT EXACTLY IS HYDROTHERAPY?
Hydrotherapy is nothing but using water to treat various health, skin and joint problems. It requires you to do special exercises that in a warm-water pool. The water temperature is usually 33–36°C (but lower for cold water therapy), which is warmer and unlike a typical swimming pool. A physiotherapist can show you how to do exercises and the exercises may differ according to your health concern.
Either full body is submerged in hot/cold water or places of concern like hips, arms, legs etc. are submerged in water for specific time intervals.
HOW DOES HYDROTHERAPY WORK?
Moist vapours either hot or cold control our sweating ability and heals by perspiration. Moist heat can make you perspire thus eliminating toxins from the body and by maintaining the body temperature. Cold vapours can reduce swelling, decrease sweating for cold compress and regulate blood flow to the area. Pain relief tips without drugs >>
WAYS OF HYDROTHERAPIES
Traditional hydrotherapy involves submerging of body into hot/cold water but now-a-days techniques have improved and come up with various other easy ways to do this therapy.
SHOWERS OR BATHS
An easiest way to do hydrotherapy is taking a hot or cold shower right in your bathroom, without having to do anything special for it! Doing hydrotherapy this way is beneficial for general sick feeling, having severe cold, mild body ache, mild sprain etc. To do this, simply have a warm/hot bath or shower and after you are done, turn off the hot water briefly and run cool water first over your front and then your back, for about five seconds each.
HOT AND COLD COMPRESS
Hot and cold compress is the easiest and widely used technique. You just need a thick towel and some water with appropriate temperature (either hot or cold). This technique is beneficial for muscle pains, body pains, joint pains, arthritis, muscular spasms, headaches etc. Simply dip the towel in water, squeeze the water out and place the towel neatly folded on the area of concern. Repeat as needed.
SWIMMING
If your body calls for a hydrotherapy using cold water, nothing can be beneficial than swimming in cold water. You anyways require exercise to be done in water, and swimming can be a safe alternative if you do not have any access to physiotherapist. Although, make sure you do this only for limited time.