Water Therapy for Back Pain

Water Therapy for Back Pain
By Brennan Howe
Several types of water therapies exist and can be broken down into two very different groups: water exercise therapy and hydrotherapy. Water exercise therapy should be done only by a qualified physical therapist, while hydrotherapy may be done by a therapist but can also be done at home to relieve backaches.

Water exercise therapy has many benefits.  The buoyancy of water supports the patient’s weight, allowing a greater range of motion when the person has too much pain to exercise on land.  This makes water exercise therapy ideal for everyone who seeks relieve from back pain.  Additionally, the water temperature should be warm enough to relax muscles, which also helps relieve pain.  A physical therapist will have you do in the pool the same exercises you would do on land; they will just be easier to do.  Some people transition to land exercises when their back allows it, some continue treatment in the water because they prefer it, and some incorporate both land and water exercises into the therapy.

Hydrotherapy for relieves pain by loosening the muscles and ridding the body of toxins that produce pain and inflammation.  Studies have shown that people who soak in a hot tub or warm bath have less stiffness, more flexibility, and tend to use less pain medication.  Hydrotherapy consists of douches, sauna or steam baths, wraps, and hot baths with or without herbal additives.  It has been used for centuries and is most popular in Europe.  Many spas now offer various hydrotherapy treatments.  The only risks involved are to people who are temperature sensitive and to those who have diabetes. You must be careful, though, not to get overheated.

To douche your back, use a hose hooked up to your bathtub faucet. Direct the stream of warm water over the painful area and toward the heart.  The water should not splash, but rather wash gently over the skin. Do this for ten to fifteen.

Saunas and steam baths help relieve mild because