Hydrotherapy

Who it suits

If any of these sound like you, it's worth a conversation.

• Weight-bearing exercise is painful, so land-based programs haven't worked
• You're early after a hip or knee replacement and need to move without loading the joint
• You have widespread arthritis and stiffness that eases in warmth
• You have a chronic pain condition such as fibromyalgia
• Balance is a concern and falling is a real worry
• You haven't exercised in a long time and need somewhere gentle to start

What a session looks like

1. 1

   Why the water helps

   Buoyancy removes most of your body weight, so joints that hurt on land often move freely. Warmth relaxes muscle guarding, and the water itself gives gentle resistance in every direction.

2. 2

   How the sessions run

   Programs are prescribed the same way as any other exercise physiology plan, with the pool as the environment. You're supervised, and the program is written down so you can repeat it.

3. 3

   Moving on to land

   Hydrotherapy is usually a bridge rather than a destination. Most people move to land-based work once they can tolerate the load, and the two often run alongside each other for a while.