About Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy tables use flotation, heat and massage to produce therapeutic effects.
The term hydrotherapy, by definition, refers to the use of water in the treatment of disease or trauma. In a broad sense, hydromassage includes water treatment utilizing any of the three natural forms of water; solid, liquid or vapor. The most common technique for hydrotherapy involves the use of the small whirlpool tanks. These tanks permit immersion within the agitated water of one or more extremities or the patient may sit in the tub. Larger therapy units (e.g., a Hubbard tank), incorporating larger whirlpools, can accommodate both a patient and a therapist.
How Hydrotherapy Works
How it works
You simply lie back, completely clothed, on the table. Just under the surface is a mattress filled with heated water. A pump propels the warm water towards you through three patented hydro-jets. Each jet spins at nearly 200 revolutions per minute. A primary wave and a lighter, secondary wave combine to produce a very effective deep tissue massage to all areas of the spine simultaneously. The combination of flotation, heat and massage produce the therapeutic effects and are described below
Flotation
Water is extremely buoyant. When the body is placed on the water mattress, there is minimal strain on the weight-bearing joints.
Additionally, few if any muscles are required to hold the body up or in position. These two conditions combine to help the patient’s body relax resulting in an increased physiologic response to treatment
Heat
Heat is evenly conducted through the skin and into the muscles and soft tissues of the body. The heat expands blood vessels, increases blood and lymphatic circulation, increases metabolism and has a sedative effect.
Massage
The pressure of the water on the body increases venous and lymphatic flow. One of the effects of the resulting stimulation is increased molecular motion in the skin that may aid the healing process. Hydrotherapy and hydromassage helps works out trigger points in the muscles, which are localized areas of hyperirritability that induce a cycle of spasm, pain, tension, weakness and limited range of motion in the joints.
How does Hydrotherapy potentially help me?
Hydromassage therapy has the potential to relax the muscular system/the fascia, and optimize the circulatory and lymphatic systems. Fascia is the connective tissue that attaches organs to organs, muscles to bones (tendons) and bones to bones (ligaments). The lymphatic system carries lymph, a clear or yellowish substance that flows throughout the body, filtering foreign matter and removing excess fluid, protein and waste products from the tissues and transporting them to the blood to be circulated and eliminated.