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Hydrotherapy
by A. Ross M.Ed.
Hydrotherapy, also called balneotherapy, involves the use of
water, in any form and at any temperature, whether ice cold
or very warm, for the purpose of healing. Water has been used
for thousands of years, by many cultures, for healing
purposes, till the development of the spas. In the 4th
century, the Greek physician Hippocrates prescribed bathing
and drinking spring water for its therapeutic effects. In our
country we have the hot springs of Tiberias, and the waters
of the Dead Sea, which involve the immersion of the whole
body into water. However, other forms of hydrotherapy include
compresses, that is, placement of wet towels, hot or cold,
over the skin; arm and foot baths; steam baths, saunas or
Jacuzzis, to mention but a few. Often, only limited
information is available about their effectiveness (and
safety) and many of the therapies have little scientific
evidence to back them up.
Some practitioners apply hot or cold fomentations, or a
mixture of both, claiming that the alternate applications can
increase the body's white cell count and thus boost its
ability to fight infection and disease. Furthermore, they
claim, among other assertions, that the therapy can be
expected to improve circulation and metabolism in the
digestive organs and increase the amount of oxygen in the
blood stream. Yet despite all the alleged benefits, some
patients feel worse, rather than better, after a course of
these treatments. The practitioners call this the 'healing
crisis' and claim that after a few days there will be a
marked improvement and that the next bout of the particular
illness which brought the patient for therapy in the first
place will be less severe.
However, leaving aside the term therapy, and evidence or not,
we know that a hot bath after a strenuous day makes us feel
good. For optimum benefit, the water should be 90 to 95
degrees Fahrenheit, and shoulder deep. Adding herbs can
stimulate or relax a person if the bath lasts at least 20
minutes.
A swimming pool, whether large or small, is the ideal place
for hydrotherapy. This form of movement needs no research or
proof that it is useful. Arthritis, osteoporosis and back
pain, all of them conditions where frequently every movement
is painful, are alleviated in the water. Swimmers may not
find that their symptoms are cured, but they certainly feel
better after a few sessions. Non-swimmers can also enjoy the
freedom and ease of movement which is facilitated by water.
Aquatic aerobics for people whose muscles are stiff and
painful, is wonderful therapy.
Many physically handicapped children who have never known
movement without a wheelchair or crutches, and even then,
whose movements are often jerky and uncontrolled, can learn
to swim quite easily. Imagine their joy at being the same as
everyone else. Here in the water, their limbs respond more
easily to manipulation, their muscles gain strength, and best
of all, they are moving of their own volition.
Some of these children have extremely low self-esteem. This
applies not only to physically handicapped children, but also
to slow learners. They could never learn to swim in a group,
either because of inordinate fear of the water or because of
their physical weakness. If they are tutored on a one-to-one
basis by an experienced hydrotherapist who works on
strengthening the muscles, straightening the limbs, and
teaching them to swim, the children will derive enormous
benefit from the sessions.
Even autistic children, who have three basic problems —
communication, social and behavioral, somehow 'loosen up' in
the water. They begin to chat (more or less) with others
while they are improving their motor skills. Some therapists
combine music therapy together with hydrotherapy and claim
fantastic results. When children are enjoying themselves,
they find it easier to communicate. ADHD children have no
problems at all when they are in the pool, albeit on a one-to-
one basis. They too do not always succeed if they try to
learn to swim with a group of children without any problems
at all. They can use their pent-up energy and their need to
dart around to their heart's content.
In many countries, the findings are positive as to the
benefits of hydrotherapy on children with mental
disturbances. Children who refused to go out alone without
clutching their mother's hand (just walking beside her was
not acceptable at all), learned to swim and this skill solved
their other problems, too. Children whose balance is
impaired, learn to swim and to kick a ball in the water; they
learn to float on their backs. Although their balance is no
less impaired when they are out of the water, they feel equal
to everyone else in the water.
Much of this short article is derived from literature and
from speaking to hydrotherapists. However, from personal
experience, 30 or 40 minutes swimming several times a week
work wonders for aches and pains. The euphoria after one
session, is carried over to the next one. Anti-inflammatory
drugs and ointments, not to mention steroid injections, all
have their uses to reduce pain, but there is nothing like
regular swimming to prevent the pain in the first place. It
is a great pity that we are dependent on water for this
beneficial remedial treatment.
One word of caution. If you have a child who might benefit
from hydrotherapy, the tutor cannot just be an ordinary
swimming instructor. S/he has to have some experience in
handling children with problems.
[Editor's Note: A. Ross is not very enthusiastic about the
general use of water therapy outside of swimming. I would
like to recommend an excellent book, Back to Eden, by
Jethro Kloss, which does advocate hydrotherapy in numerous,
effective ways.]
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