Hydrotherapy is very effective for back pain and is getting quite popular nowadays. We are all made of water and water gives us life. But what you don’t know is the healing powers of this natural potion. Water is a very powerful element and when used wisely, it can cure our body aches and pains making us young and fit again. No need for the fountain of youth anymore. Aha!
Today our article is about, whether hydrotherapy is effective for back pains and overall arthritis.
Is Hydrotherapy Effective for Back Pain Relief?
Yes! Hydrotherapy is very effective for back pain relief. It’s not a new concept. Human civilizations have been using it for centuries. Greeks and Romans built hot baths and saunas long before mankind could imagine. Egyptians also believed water to be a healing potion and knew how to use it for medicinal purposes.
Back pain is very common even among young people. The most common cause of back pain is poor posture. Young people are so lost in digital devices that they don’t care for their proper posture. Moreover, desk jobs are another cause of poor posture. People keep sitting in front of laptops and computers and forget to walk for 5 minutes every hour.
Hydrotherapy is very effective in dealing with back pain. Start by understanding
What is Hydrotherapy and How Does It Work?
Hydrotherapy is using water to heal body pains and aches. It works on three principles, Buoyancy, temperature and pressure. Hydrotherapy provides a soothing effect to muscles making you calm and relaxed.
- Buoyancy is floating on the water surface. It is important in hydrotherapy. When the body floats on water, it releases gravitational pull and frees up joints and muscles. This decreases strain and allows joints to move freely. Also, water waves gently hitting the body from below provide a soothing effect. Water makes your body flexible and allows body parts to move freely so it is easier to exercise and relieve stiffness while in water.
- The second important thing is temperature. Mild heat is very effective in reducing pain. Warm water releases tension and provides comfort to body aches. Moreover, it soothes muscle spasms and stiffness in joints. Hot water increases your blood flow. This boosts the production of natural pain-relieving hormones in the body.
- Pressure is another technique that makes hydrotherapy effective. Water has gentle yet strong pressure. Water pressure improves circulation and reduces swelling. Imagine it’s like water waves giving you a therapeutic massage with mild and gentle pressure. It reduces pressure on nerves giving you a tranquil feeling.
As in hydrotherapy, you have to sit and float in water. All the above three things effect directly on your spine and back. So hydrotherapy reduces muscle tension, relieves joints and helps with back pain.
Hydro-Massage
Hydrotherapy is all about water pressure and one of the main techniques is hydro massage. Targeted water pressure towards different body parts helps improve muscle stiffness and reduce pain and swelling.
Hydro massage allows you to target water pressure with precision. Jets are used for this. A controlled water stream hits the body parts with pressure, releasing the tension in joints and muscles. It also stimulates blood circulation. So for back pain, controlled jets can exert needed pressure on the spine and muscles nearby, providing relief from back pain.
A few techniques used for hydromassage are
- Whirlpool baths
- Aquatic massage tables
- Handheld Massage wands
- Underwater massage hoses
- Hydrotherapy showers
All these techniques use jets to control the water intensity and can hit specific body areas with needed pressure. This provides a very customized and soothing experience for individuals.
Exercises In Hydrotherapy To Relieve Back Pain
The buoyancy in water makes the body movement easier. In Hydrotherapy, different exercises can provide very effective solutions not only for back pain but for overall body aches. Some of the common hydrotherapy exercises include
Walking In water
Muscle strain can be very painful and one may not be able to walk at all. While floating in water one can mimic walking that too without pressure on the body. You just have to stand in the water and maintain your posture. Now mimic walking. It strengthens the legs muscles and hips without putting pressure on the back.
Leg Lifting To Alleviate Back Pain
This is a very effective exercise for back pain. Just stand straight in the water and try lifting one leg while keeping your back straight. It improves your posture and eradicates stains on the hip, back and leg muscles.
Stretch Your Knee
Stand still in the water and lift your knee. Try lifting it to the level of your chest. This is a very good exercise for relieving strain on back muscles.
Water Jogging
Water jogging increases muscle flexibility and reduces any stiffness in the back and lower body. You have to focus on maintaining a straight posture while water jogging for effective hydrotherapy.
Squats In Water
Try to slowly do squats in water. This hydrotherapy technique provides stability in the lower back. Aquatic squats affect your thigh, hips, and buttocks muscles.
Water Bicycle
This technique is very effective for lower back pain as peddling in water targets the leg, hips and core muscles. It improves flexibility and provides a gentle cardio workout.
Trunk Rotation For Back Pain
This exercise is very good for the spine. Stand straight and rotate the torso on one side, then towards the other side. This opens up knots in muscles and gives you very relaxing feelings. It also improves overall mobility.
Overall, using all the exercises and techniques above, hydrotherapy can be used to cure back pain. It provides not only physical but also psychological benefits.
