What is Hydrotherapy?

When people hear the word“Hydrotherapy”, they often pictureprofessional athletes sitting in tubs ofice water nursing painful muscleinjuries, or people running laps inswimming pools to rehabilitate knee orankle injuries. And while both theseexamples are indeed representative ofhydrotherapy practices, they representonly a narrow sampling of the manytypes of treatments people can takeadvantage of today.

Hydrotherapy literally means “waterhealing“ and the science of usingwater to positively affect the body hasbeen in practice for thousands ofyears. Hydrotherapy is regularly used bywestern and eastern medicalprofessionals, home remedy practicioners,ayervedic and alternative medicine specialistsand laymen alike to improve and promotepersonal health and well-being. Through differenthydrotherapy techniques, water (both hot andcold) is effectively used to help relieve musclepain and inflammation, to lessen joint pain andinflammation, to rid the body of toxins, and torelax people both mentally and physically.

Many common ailments respond positively tohydrotherapy treatment. They include: musclecramping and soreness; muscle weakness;muscle injuries; back pain; arthritis, osteoarthritis;bone and connective tissue injuries or disorders;circulatory diseases and disorders; diabetes;balance disorders; stress related disorders; andmany more. Besides the real time positive effectshydrotherapy has on many of these ailments, it is

gaining in popularity as a treatment - particularlyamong seniors - because it can be easilyperformed at home. In addition, evidencesuggests that use of hydrotherapy in the absenceof many of these ailments may help delay orprevent their onset, so it’s a great idea to startenjoying the benefits of hydrotherapy beforeissues arise or problems present themselves.

How Hydrotherapy Works

Hydrotherapy works on the body two ways:thermally and mechanically. In thermalhydrotherapy treatments, the temperature of thewater affects chemical reactions taking place inthe body and these changes are used to treatinjuries or ailments. In mechanical hydrotherapytreatments, the pressure of water pushing againstthe skin or tissue, or the sensation of water moving

across skin causes certain reactions in the skinand tissue and effects how the body reacts toinjuries or ailments. Some hydrotherapies makeuse of both types. Some rely on just one or theother.

How Thermal HydrotherapyBenefits Your Health

Warm Water HydrotherapyHot or warm water baths or soaks result inchanges in the body that lessen pain ordiscomfort and accelerate the body’s naturalhealing processes. Specifically, warm or hot bathscause capillaries (the smallest blood vesselsclosest to tissues) to open up and become larger,resulting in increased blood flow and improvedcirculation. Increased blood flow oxygenatestissues more fully and removes toxins moreefficiently.

When in a warm environment, the body redirectsblood flow to the skin and extremities in order tostay cool and keep its core temperature fromclimbing too high. When this happens, blood flowdecreases to internal organs and they slow downtheir operation. This can lead to a decrease inpain associated with the functioning of theseorgans. Heat also stimulates the immune systemand increases the production of beneficialhormones that help calm and relax the body andkeep it operating smoothly. Breathing ailmentslike asthma, bronchitis and emphysema benefitfrom the moist, hot air that rises off a warm bath,because it helps open up congested or restrictedairways in the sinuses, bronchus and lungs andreduces the potency of allergens in the air.

Cold Water HydrotherapyCold water soaks or baths also result in changesin the body that can lead to the relief ofsymptoms, but they work the opposite way ofwarm soaks or baths. Cold water causescapillaries to constrict and become smaller,resulting in decreased blood flow and decreasedcirculation to tissues and the extremities.Decreased blood flow lessens the severity ofinflammatory reactions, like swelling associatedwith injuries. A reduction in swelling results in lesspressure on the nerves located in and around aninjured area, so the nerves themselves are lessirritated and less sensitive to touch and pressure.This relieves overall pain and discomfort.

Cold water triggers the body to decrease theflow of blood to the skin and extremities andincreases the flow of blood to internal organs tokeep the core temperature from getting too low.Ailments that benefit from increased blood flowto the internal organs willbenefit from cold soaks.However, because of thehypothermic risks(especially in elderlypatients), cold waterhydrotherapy shouldonly be used under therecommendation andsupervision of a medicalprofessional.

How Mechanical HydrotherapyBenefits Your Health

First and foremost, a person only weighs 10% oftheir normal weight underwater. This means thatmuscles are only doing 1/10th of the work they

normally do to hold a body in a comfortableposition, and joints and bones experience only1/10th of their normal stress load. This takes anenormous burden off muscles, joints and bonesand allows those organs to relax fully, relievingstress, pain and the associated negativechemical reactions that accompany both andthat can be harmful over time.

Moving water that offers water massage via air orwater jets and air bubbles, produces gentletingling sensations on the skin and a pleasantrelaxing effect in muslces. Both experiences resultin beneficial chemical reactions that helpincrease circulation, reduce toxins, promotehealing and reduce stress. The “feel good” factoris especially important as the release of “feelgood” hormones by the endocrine system areimportant to these beneficial chemical reactionsand to overall good health.

Hydrotherapy Treatments forSpecific Common Ailments

Back PainDid you know that back pain is the #2 reason fordoctor visits in the US, right behind colds and theflu?

The spine is made up of a series of vertebrae thatinterlock and protect the spinal chord and it isnot a simple structure. In between eachvertebrae are “pads” that keep the bones fromrubbing together and allow the spine to flex.These are called “disks” and they are held inplace, along with the vertebrae, with a complexset of connective tissue and muscle. Differentnerves crucial to the proper functioning of organsand muscles exit the spinal chord in different

areas, pass through the vertebrae and innervatedifferent parts of the body. They are protected byspecial tissue around the nerves called sheaths,and those sheaths pass through special holes inthe bones called foramen.

When any one part of this sensitive infrastructureis out of alignment, the result can be pain anddiscomfort, but it also can be more serious. Ifinjury, swelling or scar tissue around the spine putspressure on nerves as they exit the spinal chord orinterfere with the nerve’s functioning, it can leadto decreased functionality of the organs thenerves connect to. This in turn can lead to otherhealth problems and a systemic bodyimbalance. That’s why it’s important to treatback pain as aggressively as possible, both torelieve pain and discomfort and to prevent thedegradation in function of other organs.

Recent medical studies have shown that peoplewho regularly treat their lower back pain withhydrotherapy experience a significant reductionin the frequency and acuity of pain versuspeople who do not. Because people who usehydrotherapy experience less pain, they are lessdependent on drugs to control their symptoms, sothey experience fewer of the negative sideeffects associated with those drugs, too.

Both the thermal and mechanical benefits ofhydrotherapy are at work when used to treatlower back pain. Some people may experiencea complete relief from their symptoms, whileothers may notice an noticable improvement.Either way, using hydrotheraphy to treat backpain helps make living more enjoyable andprovides a relaxing experience that providesother benefits as well.

ArthritisArthritis is a common ailment, effecting about 1 in6 people in the United States. There are many

different types of arthritis but the most common isthe type that progresses slowly as we age. Jointsstart to lose their flexibility over time as theelasticity of the connective tissue and “padding”between bones becomes more rigid, causing thejoints to swell and become large and painful.When pain occurs, the muscles around the jointsbecome tense as they try to stabilize the joint andrelieve some of the “workload” on the joint whenit’s in use. This in turn leads to muscle crampingand fatigue and adds to the pain a personexperiences.

Warm hydrotherapy is recommended by doctorsto treat symptoms of arthritis. In fact, it has beenproven more effective than dry heat treatments,like heating pads or heating packs. Warmhydrotherapy dilates blood vessels in the bodythat in turns leads to increased blood flow to thejoints and muscles. This helps relax the musclesaround the joints and helps “lubricate” theconnective tissues, enabling joints to work a littlemore smoothly and relieves cramping andstiffness. Both effects help ease the pain ofarthritis and provide soothing relief.

In some cases, doctors will recommend using analternative treatment of hot and coldhydrotherapy. Doing one and then the othercauses repeated arterial dilation, and this seemsto help relieve the pain more effectively in somepeople.

InsomniaInsomnia is classified as the inability to fall asleepand is generally caused by having too muchblood in the brain. Like any other organ, theblood flow to the brain is moderated by acomplex orchestration of chemical and electricalstimulation that relies on many other systems in

the body, including the endocrine and nervoussystems. Those in turn can be affected by manyfactors, including physical pain and stress andanxiety.

People suffer from over a dozen types ofinsomnia, the most popular being “Initial

Insomnia” which occurs when a person has issuesfalling asleep after they go to bed. For peoplewith Initial Insomnia, it may take over an hour tofall asleep after lying down, and they are easilywoken up. The causes vary, but generally themost common culprits are stress, anxiety and theabsence of a consistent sleep schedule. Theother types of insomnia include Middle Insomnia,

where people fall asleep quickly but wake upnumerous times during the night, and TerminalInsomnia where people fall asleep easily butwake up early before their body gets adequaterest. Some people might experience thesesymptoms intermittently, and some on a chronicbasis. Women who are pregnant, or individualswho have conditions that affect their hormonalbalance may also experience different types ofinsomnia.

Whatever the cause, insomnia can be disruptiveas the deprivation of sleep has negative effectson the body: people with insomnia are moreirritable and depressed and their immune systemis usually compromised, making them more proneto sickness and disease.

Doctors have long prescribed warm baths atnight as a popular home treatment for peoplewith the most common types of insomnia. Awarm bath opens the capillaries and increasesblood flow to the extremities, pulling blood awayfrom the body “core” which includes the brain.Soaking in a 104 degree bath a few hours beforebedtime has been shown to relax muscles,decrease pain in tissue and joints, decreasestress, lower the amount of blood in the brain andpromote a deeper, more restful sleep. If a personis also enjoying the benefits of air bubble or hydrojet massage, which promotes increased musclerelaxation, the effects can be even greater.

DiabetesDiabetes, or Diabetes Mellitus, is a chronicsyndrome that results in the disorderedmetabolism of carbohydrates and fat. Simply put,people with diabetes are unable to regulate theproper breakdown and use of energies fromsugar and fat contained in foods they eat. That

inability can lead to serious diseases like highblood pressure, high cholesterol, and hardeningof the arteries.

Diabetes is divided into two major categories:Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. Type 1 isknown as Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus orIDDM. Type 2 is known as Non-Insulin DependentDiabetes Mellitus or NIDDM. Over 6% of the USpopulation has diabetes and of those 6%, 90%have Type 2. Type 2 Diabetes usually develops inadults over the age of 40.

The biggest health risks with Diabetes includeunconsciousness and coma from an imbalanceof glucose in the blood (the brain uses glucose asit’s energy source), and the injury or destructionof blood vessels, particularly capillaries becauseof decreased circulation and high bloodpressure.

Hydrotherapy has actually proven beneficial forpeople with Type2 diabetes. In a study publishedin 1999 by the New England Journal of Medicine,people with Type 2 diabetes were asked to soakin a warm bath for 30 minutes a day, 6 days a

week over a three week period. The results werepromising: on average, patients’ blood glucoselevels dropped by 13%, so patients had an easiertime controlling their plasma glucose levels andalso their weight. Some even needed smallerdoses of insulin to maintain proper sugar balance.In addition, people who were unable to exercisebecause of their disease reported additionalbenefits in terms of improved circulation to theirskeletal muscles, since warm soaks opencapillaries and increase blood flow to musculartissue.

As a result, hydrotherapy has become a staplehome treatment for people with Type 2 Diabetesalong with proper diet and exercise. It is alsostrongly recommended that people over the ageof 40 without diabetes start enjoying an ongoinghydrotherapy regiment as a way to mitigate therisk of developing Type 2 diabetes as they age. Inaddition to hydrotherapy, a diet low in simplesugars and saturated fats and a regular exerciseroutine that includes 30 minutes of cardio-vascular training just three times a week maysignificantly lessen the risk of developing Type 2diabetes.

General Body Benefits ofHydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy also has some generalized healthbenefits for people. People breathe in warmwater vapor during warm water hydrotherapysessions, which helps relieve chest congestion,bronchitis and asthma. The muscle relaxationpeople experience can also help with chestdisorders like angina, which are in effect, musclespasms of the chest muscles that feel unnervinglylike a heart “cramp”. Warm hydrotherapy also

helps ease nervousness and headaches andsoothes irritated vocal chords. It will also lessenthe pain associated with abdominal and pelvicailments like menstrual cramps, hemorrhoids,kidney disorders, intestinal disorders, gall bladderdisorders, liver disorders and other systemicproblems that cause internal pain.

Since warm hydrotherapy increases circulation tothe extremities, cold hands and feet can bealleviated with warm soaks, particularly in peoplewith chronic circulation issues. People withrheumatism of the limbs, nerve disorders of thelimbs, low blood pressure, headaches, migrainesand vertigo also notice improvement of theirsymptoms with ongoing Hydrotherapy sessions.

Always Consult a HealthProfessional

As with any medical treatment, it is importantthat patients talk first with their doctors andembark upon home treatments only under theirguidance and supervision. Too much hot or coldcan cause injury or make issues worse, so itsimportant that a knowledgeable professionalhelp craft a treatment plan that is right for eachindividual. Once a treatment program has beenagreed upon, progress should be monitored andreported back on an ongoing basis so thatadjustments can be made as needed to protectthe patient’s health and safety.

Questions on Hydrotherapy and theDifferent Home Remedy Options Available?

Please feel free to contact HydroDimensions to talk about your in-homehydrotherapy options.

Our staff of hydrotherapy tub experts can help you figure out what typeof hydrotherapy products are best suited to your inidivudal situationand get you started now on the road to better health.

Contact us toll-free, Monday through Saturday, 9am PST to 5pm PST:

Hydrotherapy Expert: (888) 506-0527

Take Advantage of Our Free, No-ObligationHome Safety Inspection, Too.

Did you know that most at-home injuries occur in the bathroom,particulary when entering and exiting the bath tub or shower? Besideseducating people on the health benefits of Hydrotherapy,HydroDimensions is also concerned about educating people on homesafety. To help people identify potential safety hazards in their homeand educate them on how to remedy them, we offer free home safetyinspections to individuals living in our service areas. Performed byqualified home safety professionals, these inspections indentify potentialissues and help prevent injury, pain and suffering.

To find out if you are in our service area and schedule a free SafetyInspection, contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

Home Safety Expert: (855) 287-6350