Hydrotherapy is the use of water for health purposes. With this method, which includes natural methods that can be used in the treatment of many different diseases, patients can be healed.
What is Hydrotherapy?
The use of water in different ways in the field of health has been known since ancient times. Hydrotherapy in the modern sense was developed in the late 19th century with the contributions of a priest named Sebastian Kneipp.
In hydrotherapy, also known as water therapy, pool therapy, the effects of hot and cold water on the body are utilized. With these effects, treatment is provided by targeting the reduction of inflammation in the body and accelerating the circulation.
What are Hydrotherapy Methods?
Watsu: In this method, the patient is in a pool close to body temperature. The therapist is in the pool with the patient. The therapist makes the patient do passive movements in warm water. The muscles are opened and slightly bent. It is aimed to relax the person by massaging the parts where the pressure is high.
- Muscle tension,
- back pain,
- chronic pain,
- fibromyalgia,
- depression,
- anxiety,
- sleep disorders,
- spinal cord injuries,
- Neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis,
- Watsu method may be beneficial for people with ailments such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
In Which Situation Should Hydrotherapy Not Be Applied?
In the person to whom Watsu therapy will be applied;
- fever,
- uncontrolled epilepsy,
- serious heart problems,
- open wounds,
- skin infections,
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- constipation,
- respiratory disorders,
- there is an inconvenience to apply therapy in the presence of conditions such as allergy to chemicals in the pool.
What are Hydrotherapy Methods?
Sitting Bath: It is a method that involves sitting in a bathtub or special sitz bath kits by filling them with warm/hot water. Hot water in contact with the perineal area, where the anus, urethra and external genitalia are located; increase blood flow to this area climbs. Increased blood flow can accelerate the healing of wounds in the area, if any. Applying a sitz bath at regular intervals helps in cleaning the perineal area. Hot Water Baths: Taking a shower with hot water and spending at least 30 minutes in hydrotherapy pools containing hot water can be effective in reducing inflammation. It accelerates blood circulation.
Aromatherapy oils, sea salt, mineral salts can be added to hot water. There are studies showing that hot water bath also has a reducing effect on fasting blood sugar.
Steam Room and Turkish Bath: Steam rooms are rooms where the temperature is approximately 40 degrees. The rooms are covered with water vapor.
- Steam room improves blood circulation. It especially increases the blood flow to the limbs. It helps heal cracks in the skin.
- Sitting in a steam room can help lower blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure leads to the disease known as high blood pressure.
High blood pressure patients are at risk for cardiovascular diseases. Death may occur in these patients due to sudden cardiac arrest. Stroke and paralysis are also frequently seen in these patients.
High blood pressure that is not under control for a long time can cause dementia in the future. Dementia is a condition characterized by memory loss.
In people sitting in the steam room, the level of cortisol, which is called the stress hormone, decreases. The drop in cortisol levels can make you feel relieved.
Steam therapy is effective in relieving nasal congestion. The humid environment facilitates deep breathing and thus the mucus from the nose passes into the lungs. Steam therapy is good for skin health. All kinds of toxins that are exposed from the external environment come to the skin and settle. Humid and hot air allows the dirt on the skin to rise to the surface of the skin and open the pores. It makes it easier to have clean and healthy skin.
Exercise people and athletes can accelerate muscle regeneration by sitting in the steam room after training.
In addition to the pre-workout warm-ups, steam therapy also helps to reduce the pain in the joints. It reduces idleness and makes the muscles ready for sports. Warming up before exercise prevents injuries that may occur during exercise. Sitting in a steam room can help burn calories.
Although it is not an effective method on its own, it can accelerate calorie burning by increasing heart rate when done together with diet and exercise.
As the steam room can cause excessive sweating, people using this therapy should not stay in the room for a long time, and consume enough fluid in between to prevent excessive fluid loss.
Steam therapy strengthens the immune system cells by stimulating them. In this way, it becomes easier for the body to fight harmful microorganisms. Applying steam therapy regularly can reduce the risk of contracting infectious diseases.
While the steam room has many benefits, it is necessary to pay attention to its use in some cases.
Pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, and those who are recovering after surgery should not use steam therapy without talking to their doctor. The use of the room should be limited to 15 minutes, as the steam room may cause excessive water loss. cold water has different effects on the circulatory system. The veins in the area where the cold water is applied contract and become smaller. In hot water, on the contrary, the veins in the area where the hot water is applied expand.
Exposure to cold water accelerates the heartbeat, while in hot water the pulse decreases. The changes that occur with the alternate application of cold and hot water are provided to improve circulation by making a pump effect in the veins.
In contrast therapy, the person does not move actively, slow and light hydrotherapy exercises are used in this method. It is known that contrast hydrotherapy reduces fatigue and is good for post-exercise muscle pain.
Lactic acid accumulating in the muscles after exercise can cause fatigue and pain. After exercise; resting, drinking enough fluids and consuming foods rich in magnesium, and applying contrast therapy method, remove the lactic acid accumulated in the muscles.
As a result of damage to our body, swelling may occur with the accumulation of fluid in the damaged area. Pain may also occur due to the pressure of the swelling. Contrast hydrotherapy may be beneficial in reducing the swelling that occurs after damage.
Contrast therapy is a method applied in the hydrotherapy center under the guidance of a therapist.
In the person to whom contrast therapy will be applied; Therapy is inconvenient in the presence of problems such as heart problems, unhealed open wounds, high blood pressure and deep vein thrombosis. Contrary to water aerobic movements, the movements are slower and controlled in this method.
Due to the buoyancy of the water in the pool, the gravity acting on the body decreases. Warm water also facilitates the movements of the muscles. Depending on these factors, it becomes easier to move in water.
It can be used in the treatment of diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system such as back pain and arthritis. It is usually done under the guidance of a therapist.
Where is Hydrotherapy Performed?
Hydrotherapy can be performed in well-equipped centers accompanied by therapists. These treatment methods, also known as physical therapy pool therapy, do not provide recovery on their own in patients with severe disease, but contribute positively to the recovery of symptoms such as pain and stiffness.
People who want to have hydrotherapy should apply to a health institution that has a hydrotherapy center. patients; He should choose the most suitable hydrotherapy option for him by telling a specialist doctor about his illness and his complaints related to the disease.
Hydrotherapy may not be appropriate in the presence of conditions such as cancer, heart disease, pregnancy, reduced sensitivity to hot and cold, kidney disease, fever. It will be beneficial to carry out these therapies at regular intervals without interruption.
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