Hydrotherapy Physiotherapy

Hydrotherapy is a form of therapy that a Physiotherapist will use to help someone achieve their goals. Typically, it is a form of therapy to help with pain management, strength or endurance in a more tolerant or tolerable environment for that person. There are many benefits to someone receiving therapy standing and moving in water including making the exercises feel easier and provides a comfortable atmosphere.

Community Therapy usually combines hydrotherapy with land-based exercises as well, so that over time the person’s strength and balance and endurance improves on the land as well as in the water.

Who is Eligible for Hydrotherapy Services?

Community Therapy offers hydrotherapy under a number of funding services, including –

group of older adult swimmers meeting at valentine pool for a hydrotherapy rehabilitation class

When is Hydrotherapy Clinically Appropriate?

Hydrotherapy is commonly used for a person with post-surgery rehabilitation, such as following a total knee or hip replacement, and this is because most people find that they can do more movements and exercises in the warm water.

Hydrotherapy can also be useful for people living with disabilities or chronic joint conditions like arthritis as they can find that the buoyancy of the water allows them to be more independent with their movement and helps build skills and capacity over time that translates into the land-based environment.

What are the Benefits of Hydrotherapy?

The overarching benefits are pain management and the capacity for more movement. There are many other secondary benefits, such as:

  • Increased metabolic rate
  • Stimulation of blood supply
  • Weight management through increased exercise

Hydrotherapy and its effects are well documented, hydrotherapy is endorsed by the Physiotherapy community in general.

Physiotherapist kneeling next to an older adult in a swimming pool

How Our Hydrotherapy Services Work

Hydrotherapy Pre-Risk Screening

The first step of being suitable for hydrotherapy is to complete a Physiotherapy Hydrotherapy screen, this questionnaire can be over the phone/video conference or during an in-person initial assessment with Community Therapy.

There are several conditions and medications that would be either a precaution or a contraindication for hydrotherapy. People may also need approval from their GP or their specialists, however this is typically not the case.

Community Therapy will book the appointment time with a hydrotherapy pool closest to the person’s house after ensuring it’s a suitable date and time for the client.

2 women swimming with floaties

Accessing Pools in the Community

Community Therapy is able to liaise with most pools in the region. We typically use:

  • Charlestown pool
  • Valentine pool
  • Caughlins, Warners Bay
  • Port Stephens public pool
  • The University of Newcastle, Forum Pool
  • YMCA swim school Tuggerah
  • Toukley Aquatic Centre
  • Woy Woy Hydrotherapy Pool
  • Public areas (ocean baths, beaches etc – when goals are related to these areas)

Community Pool

Hydrotherapy – Initial Assessment

Typically, whilst in the pool, we’re assessing for the person’s safety in terms of:

  • Accessing the facilities
  • Entering the pool
  • Exiting the pool
  • The ability to perform exercises dependently or independently
  • Supervision
  • Assistive equipment or flotation devices for safeguarding

On almost all occasions, a Physiotherapist from Community Therapy will enter the water to conduct the initial assessment. In a case where we wouldn’t is when the person is highly independent, mobile and does not pose as a safety risk.

 

Hydrotherapy – Planning

After the initial hydrotherapy session, we formalise the exercise plan to be conducted for the foreseeable future which includes:

  • Amount of sessions, both in the pool and on land
  • Prescribed exercises
  • What supports are required
  • Goal setting
  • Reviews
  • Cost

For NDIS participants this service agreement will be stipulated into the NDIS plan. For homecare and private clients, we will ask for verbal consent to the plan and this information will be reflected in clinical notes.

Physio and Client in the pool

Ongoing Hydrotherapy with Community Therapy

Most hydrotherapy sessions will be one to one between the client and our Physiotherapist.

We are able to serve someone that requires close support when performing exercises, or when the person’s condition is quite complex and would benefit from regular supervision and assistance from a Physiotherapist.

Those cases tend to be more complex neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, as well as acute surgical and rehabilitation cases.

Hydrotherapy FAQ

  • Do I need a referral from a GP to engage Community Therapy for hydrotherapy?

    No, in most cases, a GP referral is not required.

    With that said, you may require a referral if you’re seeking funding from Medicare, or from a chronic disease management plan, or when a Community Therapy clinician has requested approval from your doctor because of a medical condition.

  • What conditions is hydrotherapy particularly useful for?

    It is very useful for those living with chronic pain, or conditions such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

    Most people find a warm aquatic environment therapeutic. With less gravity on the body, people are able to tolerate more movement.

    It is also useful for people that are rehabilitating post-surgery from procedures such as joint replacements for the knee/hip.

  • In what ways are Physiotherapists trained in hydrotherapy?

    Hydrotherapy is a compulsory module during undergraduate Physiotherapy studies.

    There are many forms of ongoing education for hydrotherapy which are completed as required.

  • How does patient transport and paying the pool work?

    We will organise payment of the pool facilities, this cost will be forwarded to the client on the invoice.

    We are able to help plan for budgeting of hydrotherapy and how this relates to the participant’s healthcare plan and level of funding.

    Community Therapy is unable to provide patient transport, our clients are to access the pool in their own way. This may be independently with a family member, public transport, taxi or from a carer.

  • I'd like some sessions independent, and some with the Physio, is this possible?

    Yes.

    There are other cases where the Physiotherapist will not attend the pool.

    For example, we may schedule monthly Physiotherapy sessions to review the program, review outcome measures of strength, balance and endurance.

    We would then make modifications or upgrades to the program to ensure the person continues to be challenged by their program, thus improving their capacity.