What are the benefits of systemic hydrotherapy?

What are the benefits of systemic hydrotherapy? It is a question many people are interested in. Hydrotherapy is one of the oldest treatment modalities and is widely used in many countries around the world. Currently, hydrotherapy is also accepted as an effective combination treatment in the entire rehabilitation program for patients. The following article will provide detailed information about this hydrotherapy.

Hydrotherapy is one of the physical therapy methods that is considered to have an effective impact on the pain and condition of the patient. Besides electrotherapy, heat therapy, hydrotherapy is also being applied in the treatment of musculoskeletal problems such as shoulder and neck pain, spondylolisthesis, disc herniation... Water therapy is a form of using water to act on the skin for therapeutic purposes, treating musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis, rheumatism, shoulder and neck pain...,Hydrotherapy is different from swimming because it involves special exercises that the patient will be performed in a warm pool with water temperature typically 33 to 36°C, warmer than a regular swimming pool.
Hydrotherapy applies the general physical properties of water, including hydrothermal (conduction, radiation, convection, heat evaporation), hydrodynamics (float, mechanical impact, hydrostatic pressure) ) and hydrochemistry (aeration of carbon dioxide, minerals, chemicals...). Hydrotherapy methods are very diverse, can be applied in many different forms of water, such as solid, liquid or vapor. Temperature, pressure, time and combinations with other techniques are dependent on the patient's condition, the size of the treatment unit, and the physician's instructions. The thermal, mechanical, and chemical effects of water can be used individually or in combination to stimulate the skin organ, through which the body's systems are affected through a reflex mechanism. Hydrotherapy exercises can be more difficult to perform than others because the movements here are often slow to be easily controlled for relaxation purposes.
As mentioned above, hydrotherapy is effective on painful or damaged joints such as rheumatoid arthritis, trauma, shoulder pain,... Hydrotherapy is suitable for patients after performing surgery as in patients with disc herniation surgery, degenerative joint surgery or if we have back pain, shoulder pain, muscle pain, hydrotherapy is also very effective in soothing. pains. When conducting hydrotherapy, we will be taken to a water tank by service facilities and immersed in the water tank with many other people. However, each person will have their own tailored exercises depending on the severity of the patient's disease. Or you can also practice with some groups with similar conditions like the condition you are having. Everyone will be watching and monitoring each other's treatment so that if there are problems or errors, they can be noticed immediately.
Hydrotherapy works directly on the contact surface of the body, the skin, then gradually to the muscles and other organs. We can clearly see in a number of ways the effects of hydrotherapy on the patient's body such as:
The warmth of the water helps the patient's muscles relax and relieves joint pain. At the same time, water supports weight, helps reduce pain for patients and increases range of motion in joints. Water can help increase joint mobility, so we can also improve muscle strength by pushing our arms and legs into the water. Hydrotherapy also uses the effects of water on organs in the body, specifically as follows:
Thrust and pressure factors: these are water-specific factors that other therapies do not Yes, it is used to treat illness and relax the patient. According to Archimede's law, the repulsive force of water is equivalent to the weight of the mass of water displaced by the object and is in the opposite direction of gravity. Thus, when placing the body part in the water, the weight will be significantly reduced, creating favorable conditions for easier movement. On the other hand, when we are submerged in water, we will experience a compressive pressure of water, this pressure depends on the density and depth of the water. This property is applicable to the treatment of edema. These are water-specific elements that other physical methods do not have, applied to water therapy. Temperature factor: Alternating hot and cold temperatures during the treatment will create a sudden change in the temperature of the water. This has a stimulating effect on the user's central nerves and muscles. Using hot water locally has the same effect as other methods of heat therapy and when using hot water for the whole body, it has the effect of increasing perspiration, increasing peripheral circulation, reducing blood pressure, reducing nerve excitability, etc. Cold water has the opposite effect of hot water. Mechanical factors: When the movement of water acts on the skin, it brings stimulation, like massage movements, pain relief and muscle relaxation. Depending on the velocity and morphology of the flow, the two jets can create impact pressure and different massage patterns. In addition, the circulation of the water mass also aids in softening and shedding of dead tissue layers and dry fluids on the wound surface.

Chemical factors: The chemical composition of water-soluble micronutrients is also an important factor in hydrotherapy. These elements can be used either from natural sources such as in natural mineral water, or man-made (added for therapeutic purposes as prescribed by a physician). Today, hydrotherapy is not only used in healing, but it also supports skin beauty and body firming, is known and used more often by women, combined with other popular spa treatments. . In addition, men can also use hydrotherapy to help reduce stress and fatigue after work pressure.

2.1. Hot water soak The effect of this technique is to increase peripheral circulation, increase heart rate, increase body temperature, increase perspiration, relax muscles, relieve pain, and reduce muscle spasms.
To perform this technique, the patient is prepared and lying in a bath of water up to the neck, increasing the water temperature to about 37.80C, which can be combined with massage and exercise in the water. Soaking time 20-30 minutes. At the end of treatment, wipe dry.
However, this technique is only used for some diseases such as arthritis, hypertension, spasms of the digestive and urinary organs, neuritis, trauma. Some people with severe disease, facial sclerosis, Graves, epilepsy, hemophilia, hot and cold sensation disorders should not use this technique
2.2. Soak in cold water. This technique helps to slow down the heart rate although it is slightly increased at first, the breathing rate slows down deeply, at first the skin's blood vessels are dilated, the skin is red, the feeling is pleasant, when soaked for a long time, the skin will gradually become blue and maybe pale, when out of pink skin back.
With this technique, the patient is prepared as follows: warm the patient, soak in cold water at a temperature of 10-26.70C for 4 seconds to 3 minutes depending on the patient's tolerance, can Match with rubbing to help. After soaking, wipe dry and rub vigorously with a cotton towel.
This technique is indicated to stimulate metabolism, obesity with reduced functional activity, atonic constipation but not for people with hypertension, hemophilia, nephritis, spastic paralysis, Constipation convulsions, weakness.
In some cases, it is not convenient to soak the whole body, you can soak it in part, for example, people with foot pain can proceed to soak their feet, instead of soaking the whole thing. The treatment area can be hands, feet or parts of the torso.
For hot water immersion, the patient can soak the part in hot water at 37-400C for 10-30 minutes. Used for patients with neuralgia, arthralgia, myalgia, muscle spasms.
When using alternating hot and cold soak to increase circulation much and for a long time, you should proceed as follows:
Prepare: 2 pots of water, 1 containing hot water at 400C, 1 with cold water at 160C.
Soak in hot water for 10 minutes – cold water for 1 minute. Soak in hot water for 4 minutes - cold water for 1 minute. Soak in hot water for 4 minutes - cold water for 1 minute. Soak in hot water for 4 minutes - cold water for 1 minute. Finish with a 5 minute hot water soak.
This technique is used for patients with peripheral circulatory disorders due to arterial spasm, sweating of the limbs, sprains, arthritis and is contraindicated in patients with arterial inactivity, fibrosis Arteriosclerosis, severe peripheral circulatory disease, diabetes mellitus.

Scientific studies have shown that hydrotherapy can improve general strength and fitness in people with musculoskeletal problems such as pain in the limbs, neck and shoulders,... Exercises can be tailored to individual needs and therapeutic uses, so we can start slowly and gradually build up our strength and flexibility.
When the body is immersed in water, it helps us feel much stronger as if we are exercising, but this method should not be abused. After hydrotherapy (just like swimming) your body will feel tired due to the strength of the water acting on the muscles of the body although this is normal, after a few times it will lose feeling. there.
Experts have made the conclusion that hydrotherapy is the safest and most benign method in the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases, especially arthritis or pain.
Although hydrotherapy brings many benefits to the body, not everyone can be treated with hydrotherapy. In some cases experts have made recommendations not to perform this method. Therefore, patients should talk to their doctors about their current and previous illnesses so that they can prescribe the most suitable method for you.
If we have ever had an infection or have an open wound, have a skin disease, we should not perform hydrotherapy, they will affect the wound or ulcerate the open area. People with stomach pain, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, shortness of breath, angina or heart problems, patients with diabetes People with abnormal body temperature People with kidney problems need to dialysis Chlorine allergy Asthma or epilepsy Thus, hydrotherapy is a disease treatment measure that brings many effects to the patient's body. Depending on the condition of each person, the patient is arranged to use different treatment techniques. Besides treating diseases, hydrotherapy can also be used in healthy people, helping the body to relieve fatigue and stress after hard working days.