Hydrotherapy works by using hot and/or cold water to improve blood circulation, white blood cell circulation, and lymph production to decrease fatigue, support the body’s healing, and increase the immune system. Coldwater hydrotherapy restricts the blood flow and aids in healing inflammation while hot water dilates the vessels to reduce pain and stiffness.

There are several things that hydrotherapy can help with. Water allows your body to become weightless as you float, helping to increase movement in your joints, alleviate pain and pressure throughout your body, and provide enough resistance as you move to improve muscle strength.

Hydrotherapy can be administered in many ways, both at a facility that specializes in this form of therapy as well as at home, such as through:

• Soaking in a warm or cool bath: with bath salts, essential oils, or other minerals to promote a healthy immune system.
• A cold or hot compress: allowing for targeted hydrotherapy for alleviation of symptoms in a specific area.
• Water circuit therapy: involves the person going through more than one form of hydrotherapy back to back and alternating between warm water and cold water. Various techniques are used, such as a warm bath, a cool bath, and a sauna.
• Immersion therapy: allows the person to fully submerge themselves in the water through a warm bath, hot tub, whirlpool bath, or swimming pool for full-body symptom relief.