Hydrotherapy: Short Questions & Answers for Beginners
Hydrotherapy: Short Questions & Answers
1. Definition of Hydrotherapy
Etymology: Hydor = water, therapeia = cure (Greek).
Definition: External application of water on the human body for therapeutic purposes, using its temperature and mechanical effects.
Main Differences Between Hydrotherapy and Medical Hydrology
- Water Type: Hydrotherapy uses regular water, while medical hydrology uses medicinal mineral water.
- Application Form: Hydrotherapy is applied externally, while medical hydrology can be applied both externally and internally.
2. Buoyant Force
Definition: The buoyant force is the upward force exerted on a body submerged in a fluid, opposing the force of gravity.
Applications of Buoyant Force in Hydrotherapy
- Progressive Loading: A person’s weight decreases as they are submerged in water. This allows for progressive loading during exercises.
- Neck-deep: 10% of body weight
- Shoulder-deep: 30% of body weight
- Navel-deep: 50% of body weight
- Groin-deep: 80% of body weight
- Mid-leg deep: 100% of body weight
- Facilitating or Resisting Movement: Depending on the limb’s position, buoyancy can be used to assist or resist movement.
3. Hydrodynamic Object vs. Non-Hydrodynamic Object
Hydrodynamic Object: An object in a fluid where imaginary flow lines tend to converge.
Non-Hydrodynamic Object: An object in a fluid where imaginary flow lines tend to separate.
4. Relative Humidity
Definition: The ratio of the amount of water vapor in the air to the amount of water vapor the air could hold at saturation (100%).
Ideal Value: 50-55%
Importance: Relative humidity affects the body’s ability to cool down through sweating. High humidity hinders sweating, making it feel hotter.
5. Consensual Reaction
Definition: Applying a thermal stimulus to one area of the body produces a similar, but less intense, reaction in the opposite area (and generally throughout the body).
6. Hauffe’s Rule
Explanation: Hauffe’s Rule describes the relationship between blood flow in the skin and internal organs.
- Internal Blood Deposit: Heart, lungs, liver, and large vessels.
- Superficial Blood Deposit: Skin vessels, muscles, coronary vessels of the kidneys, and most viscera and internal organs.
These two deposits react in opposition to thermal stimuli, except for short-duration stimuli where muscle vessels react differently than skin vessels.
7. Effect of Water Temperature on Muscles
- Smooth Muscle: Heat relaxes, cold contracts.
- Striated Muscle: Short, strong stimuli of heat or cold increase muscle tone. Indifferent and cold baths decrease muscle tone.
8. Alternating Baths
Application Technique
- Typically applied to hands or feet, but can be full-body.
- Alternating hot water (38-40°C) for 3 minutes (with movement) and cold water (15-20°C) for 1 minute (without movement).
- Begin and end with hot water.
- Repeat the cycle 5 times for a total of 19 minutes.
Mechanism of Action
Alternating vasoconstriction and vasodilation, creating a vascular”workout”
Indications
- Improved venous return
- Improved metabolism
- Inflammation
- Hyperhidrosis
- Edema
- Improved trophism
- Mild vascular ailments
9. Effects of Full-Body Baths
Ascending Baths (Increasing Temperature)
- Increased heart rate
- Increased body temperature
- Lowered blood pressure
- Sustained vasodilation
- Hyperemia in the treated area
Descending Baths (Decreasing Temperature)
- Decreased heart rate
- Decreased body temperature
- Increased blood pressure
- Gradual and lasting vasoconstriction
10. Whirlpool Baths
Mechanism of Action
Combines the vasodilatory effects of hot water with the mechanical effects of water movement, leading to muscle relaxation and hyperemia.
Indications
- Muscle contractures
- Stiffened limbs
- Limited passive movement
11. Kneipp Shower vs. Scottish Shower
Kneipp Shower: Uses cold water (15-20°C) without pressure, applied like a gentle sheet over the treated area.
Scottish Shower: Uses alternating hot (38-40°C) and cold water with high pressure (3-5 atm) from a distance of 4-6 meters.
12. Galvanic Narcosis
Electrode Placement
Anode (+) on the vertex (top of the head), cathode (-) on the periphery.
Main Advantage of Underwater Galvanotherapy
Larger area for current to pass through, reducing discomfort and allowing for higher intensities.
13. Whirlpool Features and Mechanism of Action
Features
- Pressure: 1-2.5 atmospheres
- Water temperature: 38°C
- Performed in a Hubbard tank or Galvanic bath
- Stream applied underwater
- Application direction: Distal to proximal for limbs, caudal to cranial for the back
- Comfortable patient positioning
- Avoidance of bony prominences and vascular-nervous bundles
Mechanism of Action
Peripheral vasodilation from hot water and mechanical effects of the spray, producing a calming effect and hyperemia.
14. Finnish Sauna
Effects
- Increased skin temperature
- Peripheral vasodilation
- Sweating and elimination of toxins
- Increased heart rate
- Improved pulmonary oxygenation
- Sympathetic nervous system excitation
Contraindications
- Diabetes
- Heart failure (up to 5-6 months post-event)
- Arteriosclerosis
- Myocardial infarction (up to 5-6 months post-event)
- Eye diseases
- Acute inflammatory phase
- Epilepsy
- Hyperthyroidism
- Renal failure
- Anemia
- Edema
- Decompensated hypertension or hypotension
15. Progression of Exercise in the Pool
Phase 1: Exercises with the Help of Floating
- Movement from a perpendicular position to the water surface
- Slow execution speed
- Increased difficulty by using a shorter lever arm and increasing speed
Phase 2: Exercises with Flotation and Support
- Flotation assists or hinders exercise
- Exercise performed at the water surface
- Increased intensity by using a non-hydrodynamic position or increasing speed
Phase 3: Exercises with Flotation and Resistance
- Movement from the water surface to a perpendicular position
- Increased muscle activity by progressing from short to long lever arms, adding objects (e.g., paddles), using non-hydrodynamic positions, and increasing speed
16. Gait Re-education in the Pool
- Early initiation in the pool allows for weight reduction
- Use of flotation devices for support
- Gradual decrease in water depth as the fracture heals
- Enhancement of hip flexion, knee flexion, and dorsiflexion due to buoyancy
17. Types of Medicinal Mineral Waters by Origin
Infiltration Water
- Originates from the hydrological cycle
- Found in areas where permeable and impermeable ground meet
- Variable flow
- Temperature below 30°C
- Alkaline earth mineralization
Deep Water
- Related to volcanic phenomena
- Steady flow
- High temperature
- High mineralization
18. Therapeutic Medical Hydrology
- Used for chronic diseases (except those with unknown pathogenic effects)
- Preventive and strengthening effects
- Treatment of psychofunctional disorders
- Increases the body’s reactive capacity