What is hydrotherapy for children?

Hydrotherapy is the completion of exercises whilst in a heated pool to treat a wide range of health or musculoskeletal conditions. It can be incredibly effective in allowing children who may be in pain or have trouble exercising out of the water to complete an appropriate exercise program.

The warmth and support of the water can provide relief for these conditions and allow exercise to be completed in a pain-free or reduced pain manner.

Benefits of how paediatric hydrotherapy will assist your child?

Hydrotherapy is great for:

• Babies with low and high tone
• Children with developmental delays
• Children needing 1:1 support in learning to swim
• Children with strength and mobility deficits
• Management of pain, injuries or return to sport
• Post operative recovery and rehabilitation
• Joint Hypermobility and Ehlers Danlos Syndromes
• Chronic Fatigue
• Balance issues

Can exercises from the clinic be transitioned into the hydrotherapy session?

Yes. When combined with a land-based programme, hydrotherapy can have a synergistic effect – that is they work together to assist in developing certain areas such as strength, or range of movement, and developing a particular skill.

As exercise physiologists our ultimate goal is function. So while improving movement and skills in the water as a part of a hydrotherapy program, it is important that we are able to transition these skills to land based activities as this is where children need to perform their day to day activities.