Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is derived from the Greek word meaning ‘water healing’.

It is a controlled aquatic exercise in heated sanitized water.

Its particular importance comes about because of the effects of the warmth and pressure of the water and particularly the buoyancy provided. Some of the main benefits are:

• Non-weight bearing exercise
• Relief from pain, swelling and stiffness
• Promotion of relaxation
• Joint mobilisation
• Cardiovascular fitness (heart and lungs)
• Muscle strengthening, maintenance & restoration
• Increase in range of motion of affected joints
• Improved circulation
• Mental stimulation

Buoyancy decreases the loading onto weight bearing joints, removes the impact associated with walking on dry land and provides assistance with balance. This helps to reduce pain and can allow easier movement with minimal exercise. The buoyancy of the water will help move the stiff joint with further range of movement with minimal exercise. The warmth of the water will relax muscles by initiating an expansion of surface blood vessels and increasing the skin temperature, which can bring about decrease in pain and muscle spasms. A decreased range of motion can often be due to pain, swelling or stiffness. Stiffness can be eased as the warmth of the water causes blood vessels to expand. Hydrostatic pressure applied by the water can assist in reducing swelling by causing a bodily fluid movement away from the affected area instead of it. This is increased with exercising the limb to enhance the circulation.

Hydrotherapy has a whole variety of uses, including and not to be limited to:

→  Pre-operative conditioning such as muscle building and toning, prior to surgery can be effective without further damage to affected joints etc. In certain cases, the building up of muscle before surgery can reduce the dog’s rehabilitation time post-surgery, as well as make the process easier.

→  Post-operative rehabilitation for many conditions can be based around or greatly assisted by hydrotherapy. Common examples include cruciate repair, OCD, hip and elbow dysplasia, hip replacement and general fixation.

→  Treatment can also be beneficial in cases of CDRM, arthritis, spondylosis, nerve damage, muscle tension and ligament injuries.

→  Obesity can be tackled in conjunction with your vet’s recommended diet. The non-weight bearing, non-impact nature of work in the pool is gentler to joints and muscles than land-based exercise.

→  Performance and stamina that are suffering from little more than old age, and perhaps arthritis can greatly benefit from hydrotherapy treatment. Many dogs in this category start to lose general fitness and muscle tone as well as put on weight, due to decreased level of exercise that they can cope with. The non-weight bearing work in the pool allows the dog to exercise its joints more easily with less pain and through greater movement, therefore building general fitness and muscle tone.

Please note, hydrotherapy sessions cannot proceed without a signed referral form from your pet’s vet prior to their first appointment. This applies to all reasons for hydrotherapy.