Hydrotherapy can be used to:
Decrease pain
Reduce swelling
Relieve stiffness
Increase Range of Motion
Increase Muscle Strength and Tone
Slow the progression of degenerative disease effects
Improve Cardiovascular Fitness
Increase sensory perception
Prevent secondary complications as a result of limb disuse or gait abnormalities
Improve mental well-being and quality of life
Conditions Hydrotherapy can benefit include:
Hip Dysplasia
Elbow Dysplasia
Arthritis
Cruciate Ligament Injuries
Luxating Patella
Pre and Post Operative Conditioning
Spinal Injuries
CDRM (Chronic Degenerative Radiculomyelopathy)
OCD (Osteochronditis Dissecan/
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder)
Paralysis
Obesity
What is Hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy involves the use of warm water in the treatment of osteoarthritis, orthopaedic conditions, neurological conditions, muscle, ligament and other soft tissue injuries.
Extensive work in human physiotherapy has demonstrated that a suitably monitored course of hydrotherapy acts by encouraging a full range of joint motion in reduced weight bearing conditions, thus improving muscle tone and promoting tissue-repair, without imposing undue stress on damaged tissues.
Swimming helps to improve general fitness, cardiovascular stamina, muscle tone and is also helpful in aiding recovery from injury or surgery and improves fitness especially in the management of obesity. Muscle wastage begins within 3 days of any immobilisation so to prevent further weakness or injury it is important to rebuild, through safe exercise, any muscles that have deteriorated. It is better to swim dogs in heated water since cold water causes constriction of the blood vessels near to the skin and to the superficial muscles (those just under the skin) which restricts the flow of blood making the muscles less efficient.
Hydrotherapy is also considered to be a natural anti-inflammatory through its ability to reduce tissue swelling.
