Exercises in water have many benefits on health

European University of Lefke (EUL) Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Instructor M.A. PT. Beraat Alptuğ provided information on “Hydrotherapy: Effects of In-Water Exercises”.

By making use of the buoyancy of the water, it is possible to make movements that cannot be done normally.

“While human civilization is unthinkable without the presence of water, hydrotherapy is at least as old as humanity. The therapeutic power of water has been discovered and used in civilizations such as ancient Egypt and China.” Alptuğ stated that Hydrotherapy (pool therapy) or Aquatic Rehabilitation; She explained it as a method of treating diseases and functional losses by making use of the physical properties of water.

She stated that there is a lot of hydrotherapy methods, saying, “With the help of the buoyancy of the water, the load on the body decreases, it is possible to do movements that cannot be done normally or cause a lot of pain while doing it.” “Compress method, high power spray, hot baths, seawater treatments, sitz baths, steam room, saunas, whirlpool baths, winding method are among the hydrotherapy methods used externally,” said Alptuğ. .

In-water exercises provide circulation, joint mobility, flexibility and increased muscle strength

“The buoyancy provided by the water supports a part of your body weight and facilitates movement in the water while at the same time providing resistance to movements. “The physical properties of water are advantageous compared to land exercises,” said Alptuğ. Another reason why in-water exercises are advantageous compared to land exercises is that the risk of falling is less and the therapeutic effect of water is also used.

Alptuğ said, “Exercises in water provide many benefits on health. Exercises provide circulation, joint mobility, flexibility and increase in muscle strength. In-water exercises can also increase agility and balance. ” She listed the benefits as follows:

•          Improves mobility in individuals with neurological disorders (eg Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Motor Neuron Disease etc.),

•          It helps walking education,

•          Improves cardiovascular endurance and health,

•          Accelerates the recovery period after surgery (especially after knee / hip / ankle prosthetic surgery),

•          Increases muscle strength and endurance,

•          It provides coping with pain in different chronic diseases,

•          Improves physical activity levels and social interaction for children with developmental problems.

In-water exercises are used in many different disease groups.

Alptuğ, for these reasons, stating that in-water exercises are used in many different disease groups, in-water exercises, especially low back pain, ankylosing spondylitis (spine or waist rheumatism), fibromyalgia, sports benefits, after hip-knee prosthesis surgery, hip and knee joint calcification, She said that it can be recommended to patients suffering from stroke, joint and soft tissue difficulties and stroke.

“Those who are afraid of water, uncontrolled heart and respiratory failure, kidney failure, uncontrolled epilepsy, infection, high fever, bladder and intestinal dysfunction and open wounds are not recommended for patients. If you have any health problems, you can contact a physiotherapist to plan the most suitable exercises for you. ”She pointed out that improper exercises can cause pain or problems to increase.