Hydrotherapy

Objective

HistoryDefine hydrotherapyEffectsphysical prosperities of water

Objective

HistoryDefine hydrotherapyEffectsphysical prosperities of water

HistoryHistory

Using thermal water for therapeutic purposes: balneotherapy, spa therapy, hydrotherapy

Hippocrates (460-375BC) used hot and cold water immersion to treat many diseases

Romans used baths for hygiene 19th-20th century: therapeutic & pleasure

Carlos Andreson 1943

DefinitionDefinition Hydrotherapy may be defined as the use of

water, in any of its forms, for the maintenance of health or the treatment of disease.

hydrotherapy has been used to treat disease and injury by many different peoples.

Also called( Hydrothermal therapy) additionally uses its temperature effects, as in hot baths, saunas, wraps, etc.

Benefits of hydrotherapyBenefits of hydrotherapyThe goal of hydrotherapy is to improve the circulation and quality of

blood.

This is important, since blood deliveries nutrient to and remove the waste products from the tissues and organs.

If circulation is poor or slow, healing nutrients could not be delivered and toxins could not be removed, which causes degeneration of tissues and organs.

By improving the quality of blood, more nutrients are available for cells to use and toxins are managed more efficiently

Physiological EffectsPhysiological Effects Thermal effects: are produced by the application

of water at temperatures above or below that of the body.

The mechanical: effects are produced by the impact of water upon the surface of the body in the form of sprays, douches, frictions, whirlpools, etc.

The chemical: effects are produced when it is taken by mouth or used to irrigate a body cavity, such as the large colon.

Common techniques Common techniques baths and showers, neutral baths, sitz baths,

contrast sitz baths, foot baths, cold mitten friction rub, steam inhalation, hot compresses, cold compresses, alternating hot and cold compresses, heating compresses, body wrap, wet sheet pack, and salt glow.

                                                           

   

                                                                      

  

                                                                                

 

Therapeutic properties of

water 

Physical properties chemical

prosperities

Physical properties of water (Aquatic Physics )Physical properties of water (Aquatic Physics )

These properties include High specific heat and thermal conductivity Bouncy Resistance and hydrostatic pressure

Physical properties 1-Specific heat and thermal conductivity

Physical properties 1-Specific heat and thermal conductivity

Water can transfer heat by conduction (stationary water) and convection (moving water) and can therefore be used as a superficial heating or cooling agents.

It is effective for this application because of its high specific heat and thermal conductivity

Specific heat. Cont.,Specific heat. Cont.,

Is the amount of heat, in calories, required to raise temp of 1 gram of substance 1 degree C.

Specific heat of water = 1.0 Cool water temps are best for long exercise

session, warm water is indicated for short-duration exercises

Specific heat. Cont.,Specific heat. Cont.,

The specific heat of water is approximately four times that of air and its thermal conductivity is approximately 25 times that of air.

Thus it transfers the thermal energy 25 times more rapidly than air at the same temperature.

Clinical benefitsClinical benefits

Clinically, during hydrotherapy, heat is generally transferred from warm water to a patient by placing the patient's limb in warm water.

Heat may also be transferred from the patient to cooler water by immersion of a limb or part of it in cold or ice water.

Physical properties Physical properties 2-Bouncy

Buoyancy: upward force generated by the volume of water displaced – force opposing gravity

Archimede’s Principle: “the upward thrust that a fully or partially immersed body experiences is equal to the weight of the water that it displaces”

-The amount of the fluid it displaces depends on the density of the immersed body relative to the density of the fluid.

Physical properties Physical properties Buoyancy Water density change

with temperature and atmospheric pressure change

The density of salt water is greater than fresh water

Density is proportional to its depth

Specific Gravity (SG): pure water at 4oC is 1.0

SG>1.0 sink

SG<1.0 float Body SG ~ 0.974

Specific gravitySpecific gravity Is the weight of a particular substance compared with

the weight of an equal volume of water Specific gravity of a person increases when there is

increased bone mass and muscle mass and decreases when there are greater amounts of adipose tissue

An object with low specific gravity (less than 1.0) will float

Objects with high specific gravity ( greater than 1.0) will sink

The human body has a specific gravity of 0.87 – 0.97

Center of BuoyancyCenter of Buoyancy

The COB is a point or location on the human body that needs to be maintained within a base of support to establish & maintain an upward & stable posture

Similar to center of gravity

COB located in chest region

Physical properties Physical properties Clinical benefits

BuoyancyHelp exercise when weight bearing is contraindication

(decrease stress and compression on weight bearing joints,muscles and connective tissues). Can be used as assistive or resistive forceRaise weakened body parts against gravity. Combination of Buoyancy and Hydrostatic pressure help in balance exercises

Torque = F x LCenter of Buoyancy (CB) of a body segment immersed in water + Center of Gravity (COG) of a body segment out of water used to analyze torque

Buoyancy & Gravity counteracting forces

Body stable: COG&CB vertical

Body rotates: COG&CB not vertical

Physical properties Physical properties

3-Resistance

Water at restDensity: mass per unit volumeρ = m/V

m= mass; V=volume

Physical properties 3) ResistancePhysical properties 3) Resistance Viscosity (internal friction between the molecules)

and cohesion (attractive force exerted by each molecule on those surrounding) of the water provide resistance to the motion of a body in water.

Resistance occurs in the against direction of the motion of the body and increase in proportional to the relative speed of the body's motion and the frontal area of the body part(s) in contact with water.

 

Clinical benefits Clinical benefits -The velocity-dependant resistance provided by

water makes it a safe and effective strengthening medium for many patients.

-Variable resistance and pressure provided by moving water can be beneficial for debriding and cleansing wounds.

 

Hydromechanics of waterHydromechanics of water

Term used to refer to movement through water

The faster the movement, the greater the resistance

Physical properties Physical properties 4-Hydrostatic pressure Hydrostatic pressure:

pressure exerted by water on the immersed body

Pascal’s law: “when a body part immersed in fluid is at rest, the fluid will exert equal pressure on all surface areas at a given depth”P = F/A

F= Force; A=Surface area

Clinical benefitsClinical benefits

Immersion in water can assist in promoting circulation or alleviating peripheral edema due to venous or lymphatic insufficiency.

Facilitate cardiovascular function Support provided by hydrostatic pressure may help to brace

unstable joints or weak muscles. The greatest effect will occur with vertical positioning. The effect will be less pronounced if the patient is

swimming in more horizontal position close to the water surface.

There are also no hydrostatic pressure effects when non-immersion hydrotherapy techniques are used.

Physical properties Physical properties

Hydrostatic pressurePatients with respiratory problems: – exercises to improve lung expansion– Difficulty breathing

Pressure with density: more pressure in deeper water (patients with circulatory problems)

Physical properties Physical properties Other properties

Surface tension: water molecules on the surface have greater tendency to hold together

Adhesion: the tendency of water molecule to adhere to other substances

Cohesion: the tendency of water molecules to adhere to each other

Physical properties Physical properties

Water in motionFlow motion

Laminar Turbulent

Physical properties Physical properties Movement of objects in

water cause water movement (whirlpools or Eddy

Turbulence cause resistance The faster the movement the

greater the turbulence Underwater exercises vs

Land exercises

Physical properties Physical properties Bow wave: positive pressure in front of the moving object – caused by the

displaced water (stop moving forward) Wake (drag effect): forms behind moving object caused by water flowing

into the area immediately to the rear – negative pressure (hold object back)

Exercise in waterExercise in water

Adjust resistanceSpeed

Size and shape– Change limb position – lever length

– Increase surface area – add apparatus