| Your body responds to Hydrotherapy based on the | | | | Applications for you may include: |
| application, technique, and area of body focus. In this | | | | Local: also referred to as thermal shock, these |
| article, I'll explain how Hydrotherapy works, so you | | | | Hydrotherapy effects are rather immediate and |
| can use Hydrotherapy to treat a wide range of | | | | include the use of heat or cold applications to the |
| health issues from sore muscles to headaches. As | | | | area of your body being treated. The result of using |
| always, check with your medical provider before | | | | either heat or cold produces increased or decreased |
| beginning any new medical application. There are | | | | blood flow/ circulation, muscle relaxation, and/or pain |
| contradictions that need to be considered for various | | | | relief. |
| conditions such as diabetes, heart conditions, | | | | Systemic: are Hydrotherapy effects not limited to |
| pregnancy, and so forth. | | | | the area of application, but rather to a related group |
| Hydrotherapy's effects on your body are based on | | | | of parts or organs. These Hydrotherapy effects can |
| water temperature, length of use, and area of body | | | | include internal temperature shift, sweat, blood |
| focus. Your body reacts differently based on the | | | | pressure/flow, heart and respiration rate, and/or |
| type of Application used. According to Dr. Patrick | | | | metabolism. |
| Barron, there are 3 primary Hydrotherapy | | | | Reflex: are more complex Hydrotherapy effects and |
| Applications: | | | | "based anatomically on the segmental relationships of |
| Mechanical: Hydrotherapy using water friction, | | | | the skin and major organs." Reflex effects are not |
| whirlpool bathtub, sprays, and so forth. | | | | immediate and involve the Autonomic Nervous |
| Chemical: Hydrotherapy using water through ingestion | | | | System. |
| or washing out one of your body cavities. | | | | As you can see, your body's response to |
| Thermal: Hydrotherapy using water temperatures | | | | Hydrotherapy is varied depending on the Application |
| above or below your body/environment normal | | | | used. Due to the complexity of Hydrotherapy, we will |
| temperature. The effects of water temperature in | | | | continue to explore this topic together in additional |
| Hydrotherapy are a key application of Hydrotherapy. | | | | blog entries. |
| The effects/results of these 3 Hydrotherapy | | | | |