Physical therapy in the pool: why hydrotherapy is the fastest route to safe recovery
After surgery or a serious injury, the body can find itself in a difficult position: it needs movement, but cannot tolerate much load. Rest can lead to muscle weakness, while returning to activity too quickly can increase the risk of pain, swelling and setbacks. Physical therapy in the pool, or hydrotherapy, addresses this challenge by allowing movement and exercise in a more supportive environment.
This type of therapy takes advantage of three key properties of water:
- buoyancy reduces the load on the joints
- hydrostatic pressure can help reduce swelling and support balance
- the warmth of the water can help relax muscles and promote circulation
Use buoyancy to make movement easier
Every step taken on land places direct load on the joints, cartilage and healing tissues. When the body is immersed in water, buoyancy acts against gravity and reduces the amount of weight the joints have to support.
The depth of the water determines how much the body is unloaded:
- water at hip level: approximately 50% less load on the joints
- water at chest level: approximately 70% of body weight is supported by the water
- water at neck level: joint loading can be reduced by as much as 90%
This significant reduction in load can make it possible to perform movements and range-of-motion exercises with less stress on the joints, even when the same movements may still be difficult to perform on land.
Use hydrostatic pressure to help reduce swelling
Water applies pressure evenly around the body, and this pressure increases with depth. Because hydrostatic pressure can exceed the pressure within the capillaries, it can help move excess fluid out of the tissues. Its effect is similar to gentle compression and can support venous blood flow back towards the heart.
After surgery, this can provide two important benefits: helping to reduce swelling, which can limit movement, and providing additional support while standing, walking and maintaining balance in the water.
Get back in the pool at the right time
After surgery, do not enter the water until the wound has fully healed. The appropriate timing depends on the type of procedure and is often between two and six weeks. After arthroscopy, incisions are usually smaller and may heal more quickly, while recovery after hip or knee replacement generally requires a longer wait.
After a hip replacement, water-based exercises are safest when started no earlier than two weeks after surgery, but always follow the advice of your doctor or physiotherapist.
Do not decide on your own when it is safe to return to the pool. Once you have been cleared to do so, physical therapy in the pool can become part of a gradual return to movement and everyday activity.
Know when hydrotherapy is not suitable for you
Postpone water-based therapy if you have:
- open wounds
- a skin infection
- an acute inflammatory condition
- a fever
- severe lung disease
Start your recovery at Remediso
Remediso has a heated indoor pool maintained at 28 °C, specifically designed for therapy under the guidance of a physiotherapist. Your physiotherapist will create an exercise programme based on your diagnosis, stage of recovery, limitations and goals, while correcting and adapting your movements throughout the session.
At Remediso, hydrotherapy can be used as part of rehabilitation:
- after spinal surgery
- after shoulder or knee arthroscopy
- after fractures
- for tendon and muscle injuries
- for joint stiffness
- for arthrosis, osteoporosis and rheumatic conditions
Do not approach rehabilitation with a one-size-fits-all programme. Individual physical therapy in the pool allows your physiotherapist to adapt exercises to your condition, abilities and goals, and gradually modify the programme as your recovery progresses.
Book your appointment online or call 021 279 844. Our physiotherapists will assess your condition and recommend an appropriate water-based therapy programme.