As injury treatment therapists, we use Hydrotherapy with our patients all the time. The fancy pants Encyclopedia Britannica defines Hydrotherapy as the “external use of water in the medical treatment of disease and injury. Its primary value is as a medium for application or reduction of heat.” Basically, if it involves something moist or wet that’s hot or cold applied to your body, such as ice packs, saunas, hot tubs, cold showers, ice massage, or hot packs, then you’re receiving hydrotherapy, either by your own application or by the help of someone else.
So, who first thought of using simple H2O as a therapeutic means? Many sources indicate that Hydrotherapy dates back to the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. It used to be called Hydropathy. And, unlike some ancient medicinal practices, Hydrotherapy actually works. Depending on the temperature of the water, different healing effects will take place; heated water can be a pain reliever, improve circulation, and serve as an easy way to reduce stress. Cold water and ice can slow down blood flow to reduce and prevent swelling and pain (1).
Three-time USA Track and Field (USATF) Ultrarunner of the year, Nikki Kimball, uses ice baths to reduce the damage to her body after she runs. Kimball explains that “cryotherapy [cold hydrotherapy]… constricts blood vessels and decreases metabolic activity, which reduces swelling and tissue breakdown. Once the skin is no longer in contact with the cold source, the underlying tissues warm up, causing a return of faster blood flow, which helps return the byproducts of cellular breakdown to the lymph system for efficient recycling by the body ” (2). In plain English, the ice bath slows the rate of initial swelling of the muscles, and then, as what’s called a “secondary effect,” it allows a faster blood flow to remove waste products from the swollen area.
Another great use for Hydrotherapy is relieving pain caused by Arthritis. Arthritis is caused by wear and tear on the cartilage that allows your joints to move together smoothly. When cartilage breaks down, the bones will rub together and can cause a great deal of pain and inflammation. Cold packs can help reduce swelling and inflammation of a joint, as well as numb some of the pain. Using hot packs, or simply being submerged in hot water, will increase blood flow and circulation to the area, as well as relieve pain for some. WebMD recommends that those with Arthritis experiment with different hydrotherapy routines to determine if cold or hot hydrotherapy works the best for them. Many find alternating between hot and cold hydrotherapy to very effective as well (3) (5).