Aqua Therapy or hydrotherapy is one of the wonderful ways to rehabilitate elderly people, which will increase their strength, range of motion, balance and flexibility, and will replace tension and anxiety in the elderly with peace and joy. In this method, special stretching and flexibility movements are performed in water that are adjusted to the needs of the elderly. Hydrotherapy for elderly, has been used since ancient times to improve the physical and mental condition of the elderly using water and has had a special place in the traditional medicine of many countries.
Today, doctors and physiotherapists still use warm water therapy for older adults to relieve pain, increase flexibility, and improve the function of muscles and joints in the elderly. Hydrotherapy is a great opportunity for the elderly to improve their body’s performance with less pain and difficulty. Accordingly, we have decided to dedicate this article from the humanhealthmag website to benefits of hydrotherapy exercises for elderly health. Thus we can study it and find out what problems hydrotherapy helps to solve in the elderly and what methods, rules, and limitations it has.
What is Hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy means the treatment of diseases with water. This treatment method that is performed in water. Since ancient times, both primitive tribes and civilized nations have used water for treatment. Even wild and domestic animals have learned that when they get sick, they should drink water.
Some people have limited range of motion due to problems and illnesses and are unable to exercise. However, the properties of water allow them to move more easily and to perform aerobic exercises in water. One of the interesting properties of water is that it makes people lighter, and for this reason, people in water are able to do more movements.
What is Hydrotherapy for Elderly?
Hydrotherapy for elderly is one of the healthiest and most enjoyable exercises that has many benefits for them. By walking and doing exercises in water, the elderly can greatly help relieve their pain. This method not only helps their physical health, but also changes their mood and makes them feel refreshed. This action is especially recommended for elderly people who suffer from knee pain and back pain.
The correct consumption of water not only preserves our health and the elderly, but also restores it in case of loss of health or a disturbance in it by cleaning waste materials from the body. Classification of water in terms of temperature and its properties for the body:
- Water warmer than the body is strengthening, invigorating and energizing.
- Water cooler than body temperature (37 degrees) has a cooling and stimulating effect.
- Water that is hot creates peace and relieves pain, but causes extreme fatigue.
- Water that is slightly below body temperature, i.e. lukewarm water (27 to 32 degrees) or water that is neither cold nor hot (32 to 35 degrees), is always beneficial and is suitable for general use, especially for the elderly.
What Are the Benefits of Hydrotherapy for Elderly?
Hydrotherapy for the elderly can have a tremendous impact on the body of the elderly. This treatment method can improve spinal cord injuries, back pain, knee pain, arthritis and osteoporosis and help relieve the pain of dear elderly people. Hydrotherapy can also indirectly reduce symptoms and improve the function of various body organs and help treat blood pressure and diabetes.
In addition to relieving pain, facilitating movement and strengthening muscles, hydrotherapy has other extensive benefits. For example, hydrotherapy increases breathing volume, increases body metabolism and dilates blood vessels, which prevents lung problems in the elderly and improves heart function.
Another example is the ease of movement in water, which provides an opportunity for those elderly people who have suffered a stroke and paralysis to regain strength and control over their disabled limbs. The effect of hydrotherapy on maintaining balance in the elderly cannot be ignored, because water pressure stimulates the nervous system, increases the range of motion of joints, and consequently improves balance. Other benefits of hydrotherapy for older adults can be found in the following.
What Conditions in the Elderly Are Treated with Hydrotherapy?
- Improving bowel movements and then treating constipation and digestive problems in people over 65
- Treatment of cardiovascular diseases, increasing metabolism and as a result, dilating blood vessels and reduces its pressure.
- By increasing the respiratory volume of the lungs, it prevents the occurrence of phlegm and lung infections and helps prevent lung problems in the elderly.
- Healthy spine, softness and warmth, and stretching of the spine; Therefore, an elderly person can relieve his physical pain with water therapy.
- Hot water therapy is good for kidney patients. Proper blood circulation can prevent the deposition of various salts in the kidneys and liver and prevent the occurrence of kidney diseases in the elderly.
- Elderly people are more likely to be inactive, and this causes various diseases in them. Many of these diseases can be prevented with water therapy and proper blood circulation.
- Hydrotherapy in the elderly is a safe solution that helps reduce blood sugar levels and body weight, making it easier to control diabetes.
- Performing stretching, strength and relaxation exercises in hydrotherapy for the elderly with Parkinson’s disease improves proprioception in the joints, eliminates muscle stiffness and pain, improves movement and balance, etc.
- The miracle of hydrotherapy for people with MS in old age should not be ignored, as hydrotherapy reduces limb deformity, fatigue, and spasms, and increases their flexibility.
- The effects of hydrotherapy on osteoporosis in the elderly, although not as great as dryland exercise, greatly help strengthen the bones of the pelvis and spine and prevent their decomposition.
Strengthening the Immune System of the Elderly with Hydrotherapy
There is always a domino effect in the body. For example, increased stress reduces the quality of sleep in the elderly, and reduced sleep quality impairs the functioning of the immune system. This is how when exposure to water reduces the tension and anxiety of the elderly, they experience better quality sleep on the one hand and are protected from a weakened immune system on the other.
In addition, hydrotherapy will also strengthen the immune system by affecting the circulation of white blood cells and increasing the excretion of toxins from the body through sweating and urination.
The Effect of Hydrotherapy on Physical Pain in Senior
While rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis in senior cause all kinds of physical pain in the elderly, hydrotherapy reduces them! Hydrotherapy is a blessing for the elderly with knee abrasion, because it removes pressure from the joints damaged by arthritis, which are forced to bear the full weight of the person on land, and reduces muscle spasms. This is how the effect of hydrotherapy for knee pain in elderly will manifest itself over time in the form of relaxed muscles and joints whose movements have improved.
The effect of hydrotherapy for back pain in the elderly is the same; it removes tension and pressure from the muscles and nerves that constantly send pain messages and eliminates muscle stiffness. Apart from these, hydrotherapy is also effective in relieving pain in the neck, legs, shoulders, sciatic nerve, etc.
The Effect of Hydrotherapy on Mental Health in Old Age
Think about soaking in a hot tub; would you feel relaxed and light-headed? The same is true for the elderly. Hydrotherapy, in the form of hot water massage, stimulates the senses and blood flow of the elderly, drains negative energies, removes tension and fatigue from the body, reduces physical pain and pressure on the heart, and relaxes the body and soul of the elderly. The result of such a process will be a change in the spirit and mood of the elderly and their cheerfulness, which proves that it is possible to maintain the mental health issues in elderly with hydrotherapy.
Benefits of Aerobic Exercise for Elderly During water therapy
- Joint flexibility and muscle tightening and improvement of osteoporosis
- Prevention of cardiovascular diseases and diseases caused by inactivity
- Relief of pain and strengthening of the muscles of the elderly
- Prevention of dry skin in the elderly
- Boosting morale and treating depression in the elderly
- Increasing the calmness and physical fitness of the elderly
Who Should not Do Hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy, like any other sport, may have problems and limitations. Although hydrotherapy is beneficial for the elderly, some people should not use this method. For example, it is not recommended for elderly people who are allergic to chlorine to use the pool. Also, the elderly who suffer from urinary incontinence cannot use water therapy.
Another dangerous condition in hydrotherapy is elderly people who suffer from epilepsy, they may have epileptic seizures in the pool water and it is dangerous for them. Do you really know how to manage incontinence in the elderly? Elderly people with severe heart failure, those with skin infections or open wounds, and elderly people with a high fever are among the elderly for which is hydrotherapy harmful.
The elderly person’s body temperature and the condition of their limbs and body should be examined for swelling, open wounds, and skin color, and the treatment method should be explained to them. In many patients and elderly people with back pain, aquatic exercise should only be done under the guidance of a qualified professional. In addition, hydrotherapy is contraindicated for seniors with the following conditions:
- Hydrotherapy is not suitable for seniors who are very sensitive to hot or cold temperatures.
- Seniors who are afraid of water and have phobias should not go for hydrotherapy.
- Hydrotherapy is not recommended for seniors with cancer.
- Seniors with very high blood pressure should avoid hydrotherapy.
- Seniors with certain cardiovascular diseases should not do hydrotherapy.
- Seniors with asthma symptoms may be aggravated by hydrotherapy and are not recommended.
- Being in water will be very beneficial for seniors with psoriasis, but not chlorinated pool water or when they suffer from plaques of this disease.
Hydrotherapy at Home
How can I do hydrotherapy at home? The common methods of hydrotherapy at home shower for elderly are:
- Hot water shower: Doing exercises and sports under a hot water shower can help reduce muscle cramps and bone pain.
- Salt water therapy: Soak your feet in warm water that dissolving sea salt in it and adding herbal and aromatic oils.
- Hot water fumigation: Hot water steam can be useful for cleaning skin pores and sinuses. You can do this under warm water shower.
Important Advice Before Starting Hydrotherapy for Elderly
Furthermore, potential risks must always be considered: an elderly person with poor stamina or who struggles with balance will be prone to falls due to slippery conditions and drowning. For this reason, it is very important to ensure the safety of the hydrotherapy space.
- First of all, consult with the elderly person’s doctor to clarify the details of the treatment process and provide solutions for existing possibilities and concerns.
- Consider the condition of your dear elderly person. He/She may be afraid of water or think that he/she cannot maintain his/her balance due to his/her physical weakness. Reassure him by giving him enough information.
- If the elderly person does not show any desire to be in the water, do not force him/her to do so.
- Be sensitive to the safety of the hydrotherapy pool for elderly. If you take the elderly person to the pool for treatment, check that it is equipped with guards and handles for mobility assistance.
- The presence of a lifeguard on site is very important. Be sensitive to this issue and make sure that a lifeguard is always present on place.
- The hygiene of the space you have chosen for your elderly person’s water therapy is very important. Make sure that hygiene issues are carried out carefully and delicately.
- The elderly person should not be left alone in the water. Just as there are interns in hydrotherapy centers to train and accompany the elderly, if you are doing hydrotherapy in a private pool, do not leave them alone.
- Ask the elderly to pay attention to their body’s symptoms and if they feel tired or have a problem, stop the exercise and inform their companion.
Concluding Remarks
In this article from humanhealthmag, we learned that hydrotherapy is an opportunity for older people to improve both their spirits and their bodies by relying on the properties of water. This method helps treat many disabilities and diseases by increasing blood circulation and metabolism, eliminating tension, stiffness and stress in the limbs, strengthening muscles and expanding the range of motion of joints, dilating blood vessels, etc.
Hydrotherapy for elderly is one of the effective and low-risk ways to improve the quality of life of the elderly. It can help reduce joint pain, improve heart function, increase flexibility, and reduce stress. However, hydrotherapy also has limitations and guidelines that require consulting a doctor to know the details. If you are looking for a safe and enjoyable way to improve your senior health, hydrotherapy is an ideal option.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hydrotherapy for Seniors?
Hydrotherapy for elderly is a form of treatment that uses specific stretching and flexibility exercises tailored to the individual’s condition. It is best to perform hydrotherapy exercises under the supervision of a specialist.
What is the Appropriate Food for the Elderly Before Starting Water Therapy?
In fact, there is no specific dietary recommendation for hydrotherapy, unless the doctor has given instructions for the individual based on the individual’s specific condition. However, it is important to keep the senior hydrated. Consuming nutritious, but easily digestible and balanced foods is a good idea, provided that there is an hour or two left before the hydrotherapy session.
What is the Appropriate Water Temperature for Hydrotherapy for the Elderly?
People over the age of 65 are more sensitive to cold or hot water. Given this, it is usually recommended that the water temperature for them be between 31 and 34 degrees Celsius.
How Many Hours Does Each Hydrotherapy Session Last for the Elderly?
In this case, everything depends on the physical condition of the elderly person, the type of exercises and the goals that are intended for performing this method. For example, hydrotherapy to improve a herniated disc requires one-hour sessions, but ultimately it is the doctor or physiotherapist who determines how the sessions should be scheduled.