Fresh pure water. Sounds like music to my ears. Ever come back home on a hot day and wanted a long tall glass of chilled water. I’m sure you have! Nothing compares to fresh pure water to quench your thirst.
When I think of water I think of fresh morning dew, azure blue swimming pools, a red match on aquamarine seas, magnificent waterfalls in the middle of the mountains. I am already feeling rejuvenated. The Romans were definitely a smart bunch of people. I tend to conjure up an image of emperor Nero or Julius Caesar in a beautifully carved marble bathhouse. On the other hand you might think of Cleopatra bathing in lemon and lily treated water. Water has been used as a healing agent since time immemorial. It’s just the way it is used that has evolved to a large extent. The term water therapy can be categorized into separate sections.
1. External Uses
Therapeutic exercise in a fluid environment, which is such that individuals can perform movements that would be impossible or painful if attempted on land. For this reason, strengthening, balance training, biomechanical training, paralytic exercise and gait training can be initiated immediately in the rehabilitation process. 2. Internal- Drinking pure H2O that is beneficial to many parts of our constitution- the skin, the liver, the stomach, the list is endless. External Uses- There are individuals who have a problem with the movement of their limbs. That is where water therapy may be effectively applied. Water is a unique environment in which the effects of gravity are minimized and effects of buoyancy take over. This allows for more tolerance on the part of the individuals to assist or resist their movements at a pace they can tolerate. The environment allows for non-weight bearing and partial weight-bearing exercise.
Exercises in the vertical position promote body awareness, postural control, and movement patterns, which have carryover to activities of daily living. An added benefit is that water therapy involves use of the entire body, not just the injured part, thereby enhancing overall conditioning. Water is also a great medium for conditioning and training-whether for general health or a particular sport activity. Warm water exercise is one of the best therapies for those suffering from arthritis and similar disabling problems. Mild to moderate exercise done in our warm water facility is relatively stress free because the buoyancy from the water supports 90% of body’s weight.
The warmth also provides a comfortable environment that promotes relaxation, greater range of motion, flexibility and increase in muscle strength. While we are concentrating solely upon muscular uses of water therapy, it should be brought to notice that it is considered beneficial to people who suffer from breathing difficulties-asthmatic patients, smokers who are trying to quit. What are some of the conditions for which water therapy treatments should NOT be used? Bowel / bladder incontinence skin diseases open wounds when prohibited by physician orders Benefits may include: reduction or elimination of pain; increased range of motion, flexibility, endurance, strength, and improved body awareness and body mechanics.
2. Internal Uses
Another way of looking at water therapy is the consumption of water. Water consumption is considered to be very beneficial because it helps in purifying human blood. All weight loss instructors are also advocating it. People who are trying to loose weight are instructed to have at least 4 liters of water a day. USES – Warm water therapy has been successfully used for a variety of medical condition Suppresses appetite – Assists the body in metabolizing stored fat, because your liver is overloaded when your kidneys don’t get enough water. Your liver metabolizes fat, and it can’t do that 100% if it is doing the kidneys job. – Reduces fat deposits in the body – Relieves fluid retention problems.
If you don’t give your body water, it will hold it so as not to lose it. – Reduces sodium buildup in the body
– Helps to maintain proper muscle tone.
– Rids the body of waste and toxins
– Relieves constipation Diseases cured by Drinking water
Headache Blood Pressure/Hyper Tension Anemia Rheumatism General Paralysis Obesity Arthritis Sinusitis Giddiness Cough Asthma Bronchitis Pulmonary Tuberculosis (T.B.) Meningitis Kidney stones Hyper acidity Gastro-enteritis Dysentery Constipation Diabetes Eye diseases Ophthalmic Hemorrhage & Ophthalmia (reddish eye) Irregular Menstruation Leukemia uterine cancer Breast cancer Laryngitis.
