Your body responds to Hydrotherapy based on the application, technique, and area of body focus.
In this blog, I’ll explain how Hydrotherapy works, so you can use Hydrotherapy to treat a wide range of health issues from sore muscles to headaches. As always, check with your medical provider before beginning any new medical application. There are Hydrotherapy contradictions that need to be considered for various conditions such as diabetes, heart conditions, pregnancy, and so forth.
Hydrotherapy’s effects on your body are based on water temperature, length of use, and area of body focus. Your body reacts differently based on the type of Hydrotherapy Application used. According to Dr. Patrick Barron, there are 3 primary Hydrotherapy Applications:
- Mechanical: Hydrotherapy using water friction, whirlpool bathtub, sprays, and so forth.
- Chemical: Hydrotherapy using water through ingestion or washing out one of your body cavities.
- Thermal: Hydrotherapy using water temperatures above or below your body/environment normal temperature. The effects of water temperature in Hydrotherapy are a key application of Hydrotherapy.
The effects/results of these 3 Hydrotherapy Applications for you may include:
- Local: also referred to as thermal shock, these Hydrotherapy effects are rather immediate and include the use of heat or cold applications to the area of your body being treated. The result of using either heat or cold produces increased or decreased blood flow/ circulation, muscle relaxation, and/or pain relief.
- Systemic: are Hydrotherapy effects not limited to the area of Hydrotherapy application, but rather to a related group of parts or organs. These Hydrotherapy effects can include internal temperature shift, sweat, blood pressure/flow, heart and respiration rate, and/or metabolism.
- Reflex: are more complex Hydrotherapy effects and “based anatomically on the segmental relationships of the skin and major organs.” Reflex effects are not immediate and involve the Autonomic Nervous System.
As you can see, your body’s response to Hydrotherapy is varied depending on the Hydrotherapy Application used. Due to the complexity of Hydrotherapy, we will continue to explore this topic together in additional blog entries.
Reference: Hydrotherapy Theory & Technique 3rd Edition by Dr. Patrick Barron

