Hydrotherapy

Please consult your practice to ensure this service is available before booking.

Water creates natural resistance to movement, which forces the muscles of your body to work harder, creating a positive long-term impact on muscle strength and endurance.

The added buoyancy eases movement in the pool, stimulating circulation, relieving joint pain, and decreasing effective body weight, allowing those with too much discomfort to walk and replicate land activities in a safe and supportive setting.

Pool Treatment Procedures

It is generally best to have an assessment done by our physiotherapists first to ascertain the extent of the problem and your limitations. Land-based treatment or hydrotherapy alone may be suggested, or land treatment may be combined with hydrotherapy to maximise its effect. For example, pre-pool joint mobilisation/exercise may be needed to allow for better movement in the pool or enable the progression of exercises without aggravation. Home exercises may also be of benefit, and of course, can be done more frequently.

Advice may be given on how to manage the condition better, either to assist with healing, to try to prevent recurrence, or to slow down progression. If safe and appropriate, an individual pool exercise programme may be prescribed to be continued in a group situation, without the need for a one-to-one physiotherapy session, saving on costs. This is especially useful if it is found that "maintenance" exercises are necessary to control an ongoing problem. 

During the course of your treatment, it may be necessary to write to your doctor to inform them of your progress or outcome.

Clarence Joint Therapy Hydrotherapy Pool

Experience our bespoke Hydrotherapy pool at our Clarence Joint Therapy Howrah location in Tasmania! We have an on-site, modern, purpose-built, warm (35-36 degrees Celsius), 11-by-7 metre pool, varying in depth from 1.2 to 1.5 metres, enabling an extensive range of exercises to be performed.

Exercising in our Clarence Hydrotherapy Pool has several benefits for joints and muscles:

1. Unloading the weight of the body through the buoyancy of the water reduces stress on joints, especially on the lower back, hips, knees, and ankles.
2. Pain relief is achieved as the warmth of the water enables relaxation of tight muscles, allowing for better movement when stiff.
3. Reduced swelling as the compression of the skin with the pressure of the water, particularly when exercising, helps with the return of fluid to the heart and reduces oedema.
4. Facilitating exercise with the smooth resistance of muscles, graded to suit all levels of fitness and swimming ability by varying the speed of movement. Equipment and water depth selection may be used to help increase range of movement, resist movement for strength, stimulate better balance, or a combination of these effects.
5. Promoting practical functional activities, such as balance, walking, squatting, and stepping exercises, which may be too difficult to perform otherwise.

Pool Design

The pool has shallow steps with rails to assist entrance and exit. There is also a rail all the way around the pool to allow a firm hand-hold if needed for exercise. The pool has a "wet deck" to reduce wave formation and facilitate entrance and exit.

Spa Facility

In the shallow end of the pool, there are six jet-adjustable spa seats, allowing for muscle relaxation with the massage of the warm water jets.

Pool Equipment

We have a hoist for patients who cannot use the pool steps, as well as a variety of floats and buoyancy aides to be used to support, assist or resist movement.

Changing Rooms

The are three changing rooms. One female, one male, and one disabled (for patients in wheelchairs, or where carers may assist if a client needs help with dressing). Each has its own toilet and showering facilities.

There is also a poolside shower.