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14 Adar I 5765 - February 23, 2005 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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Home and Family

Hydrotherapy
by A. Ross M.Ed.

Hydrotherapy, also called balneotherapy, involves the use of water, in any form and at any temperature, whether ice cold or very warm, for the purpose of healing. Water has been used for thousands of years, by many cultures, for healing purposes, till the development of the spas. In the 4th century, the Greek physician Hippocrates prescribed bathing and drinking spring water for its therapeutic effects. In our country we have the hot springs of Tiberias, and the waters of the Dead Sea, which involve the immersion of the whole body into water. However, other forms of hydrotherapy include compresses, that is, placement of wet towels, hot or cold, over the skin; arm and foot baths; steam baths, saunas or Jacuzzis, to mention but a few. Often, only limited information is available about their effectiveness (and safety) and many of the therapies have little scientific evidence to back them up.

Some practitioners apply hot or cold fomentations, or a mixture of both, claiming that the alternate applications can increase the body's white cell count and thus boost its ability to fight infection and disease. Furthermore, they claim, among other assertions, that the therapy can be expected to improve circulation and metabolism in the digestive organs and increase the amount of oxygen in the blood stream. Yet despite all the alleged benefits, some patients feel worse, rather than better, after a course of these treatments. The practitioners call this the 'healing crisis' and claim that after a few days there will be a marked improvement and that the next bout of the particular illness which brought the patient for therapy in the first place will be less severe.

However, leaving aside the term therapy, and evidence or not, we know that a hot bath after a strenuous day makes us feel good. For optimum benefit, the water should be 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and shoulder deep. Adding herbs can stimulate or relax a person if the bath lasts at least 20 minutes.

A swimming pool, whether large or small, is the ideal place for hydrotherapy. This form of movement needs no research or proof that it is useful. Arthritis, osteoporosis and back pain, all of them conditions where frequently every movement is painful, are alleviated in the water. Swimmers may not find that their symptoms are cured, but they certainly feel better after a few sessions. Non-swimmers can also enjoy the freedom and ease of movement which is facilitated by water. Aquatic aerobics for people whose muscles are stiff and painful, is wonderful therapy.

Many physically handicapped children who have never known movement without a wheelchair or crutches, and even then, whose movements are often jerky and uncontrolled, can learn to swim quite easily. Imagine their joy at being the same as everyone else. Here in the water, their limbs respond more easily to manipulation, their muscles gain strength, and best of all, they are moving of their own volition.

Some of these children have extremely low self-esteem. This applies not only to physically handicapped children, but also to slow learners. They could never learn to swim in a group, either because of inordinate fear of the water or because of their physical weakness. If they are tutored on a one-to-one basis by an experienced hydrotherapist who works on strengthening the muscles, straightening the limbs, and teaching them to swim, the children will derive enormous benefit from the sessions.

Even autistic children, who have three basic problems — communication, social and behavioral, somehow 'loosen up' in the water. They begin to chat (more or less) with others while they are improving their motor skills. Some therapists combine music therapy together with hydrotherapy and claim fantastic results. When children are enjoying themselves, they find it easier to communicate. ADHD children have no problems at all when they are in the pool, albeit on a one-to- one basis. They too do not always succeed if they try to learn to swim with a group of children without any problems at all. They can use their pent-up energy and their need to dart around to their heart's content.

In many countries, the findings are positive as to the benefits of hydrotherapy on children with mental disturbances. Children who refused to go out alone without clutching their mother's hand (just walking beside her was not acceptable at all), learned to swim and this skill solved their other problems, too. Children whose balance is impaired, learn to swim and to kick a ball in the water; they learn to float on their backs. Although their balance is no less impaired when they are out of the water, they feel equal to everyone else in the water.

Much of this short article is derived from literature and from speaking to hydrotherapists. However, from personal experience, 30 or 40 minutes swimming several times a week work wonders for aches and pains. The euphoria after one session, is carried over to the next one. Anti-inflammatory drugs and ointments, not to mention steroid injections, all have their uses to reduce pain, but there is nothing like regular swimming to prevent the pain in the first place. It is a great pity that we are dependent on water for this beneficial remedial treatment.

One word of caution. If you have a child who might benefit from hydrotherapy, the tutor cannot just be an ordinary swimming instructor. S/he has to have some experience in handling children with problems.

[Editor's Note: A. Ross is not very enthusiastic about the general use of water therapy outside of swimming. I would like to recommend an excellent book, Back to Eden, by Jethro Kloss, which does advocate hydrotherapy in numerous, effective ways.]

 

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