HYDROTHERAPY TREATMENTS

Techniques, and the equipment necessary to perform those techniques, are listed below.

Hydrotherapy by definition is the use of water, either externally or internally, to treat and/or prevent disease. Spa hydrotherapy treatments are more focused on relaxation of tense muscles to prepare them for massage, to change body temperature to increase blood flow, lymphatic drainage and stimulation of the immune system for therapeutic effect, or simply as a more enjoyable way to rinse off body treatment products.  Some of the most popular hydrotherapy treatments include:

Basic Hydrotherapy: The use of bubbling or pressurized jet baths, spa showers using pressurized shower heads, underwater massage using a pressurized jet wand, Vichy shower, Swiss shower, Scotch hose, spa pedicure chairs with water massage basins, all using either fresh (tap) water, mineral water (balneotherapy), or sea water (thalassotherapy).

• Balneotherapy is the traditional study and practice of water-based therapeutic treatments using either fresh water, geothermal/hot spring water, or mineral water.

• Thalassotherapy is the simultaneous use of sea water and sea air for therapeutic purposes, usually in a location on the ocean. Thalasso is derived from the Greek word “thalassa” meaning “the sea.”

• Kneipp Kur: Treatments combining hot/cold hydrotherapy, herbology, and diet of natural foods; developed in Germany in the mid-1800s by Pastor Sebastian Kneipp.

• Hydrotherapy tub treatment with underwater massage, performed by a trained therapist, using a hand-held wand through which water is propelled at very high pressure.

• Flotation tanks – sensory deprivation for very deep relaxation, generally using saline water for buoyancy

• Vichy showers – the client lies on a table with jets of water massaging the back from overhead

• Swiss showers – Multi-head showers, ranging from 6 to 12 heads, that rinse the body from overhead and sides. Cycling different temperatures produces therapeutic effects.

• Deluge showers – The client stands under an overhead shower that releases a very high volume of water for an invigorating “waterfall” experience.

• Soaking tubs – An unsupervised therapy, generally simply for relaxation. Soaking tubs can incorporate chromatherapy (using colored lights), which is believed to have healing effects, both psychologically and physiologically. Some also have stereo sound built in for a more relaxing (or invigorating, depending on the music) experience.

• Scotch hoses – A therapist does a muscle massage on the client who stands against a wall, holding onto handles for support. The therapist uses a hand-held wand that propels water at high pressure from a distance, targeting specific areas to greatly increase circulation, increase the release of toxins and even help to break up fat deposits.

• Watsu – Japanese Shiatsu massage in a pool of warm water. The technician uses pressure massage with her fingers along the body's meridien points to relieve pressure and pain in the musculature and deep tissues, as in Shiatsu, but the massage is performed with the client in a tub of warm water.  

       
• Ionization: The use of marine spray using negative ions. Sea water particles ionized with negative electrons which are believed beneficial, especially for the upper respiratory tract.

Click here for information on hydrotherapy equipment available from SpaEquip.