Instructor Resources

Chapter 5: Understanding the Key Elements of Hydrotherapy Treatments

Purpose of Chapter 3

For the Student to understand:

• The key elements that a common to all hydrotherapy treatments presented in Chapter 7
  Client, Therapist, Product, Equipment, Water, Step-by-step Instructions, Treatment Facility/Room
  
  
• Overview of different types of hydrotherapy treatments
  
  
• How to create a combination of treatments that include hydrotherapy treatments
  
  
• How to create a series of treatments that include hydrotherapy treatments
  
  
• Special approaches to hydrotherapy that require special education
  
  
• Hydrotherapy treatments and programs, when considering the cost of equipment and other factors, can range from very inexpensive to more expensive.

Lesson: Key Elements of Hydrotherapy Treatments

Discuss: What are the key elements of a hydrotherapy treatment? 

Discuss: The Hydrotherapy Treatment Formula. How is the total beneficial outcome a hydrotherapy treatment effected by the quality of each of the key elements of a hydrotherapy treatment? What is meant by the ancient saying that, "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts"?  Refer to Figure 5-2 Hydrotherapy Treatment Formula 

Discuss: Each of the key elements of a hydrotherapy treatment

Client

• Discuss: How each client has several different health & wellness goals.
• Discuss: How through the client interview, it is possible to determine what are the specific health & wellness goals of each client.
• Exercise: Using the Client Interview Form (Figure 7.1), have each student list their own health & wellness goals. Client Interview Form Link

Therapist

• Discuss: The role of the Therapist in a hydrotherapy treatment.
• Discuss: Why a therapists is important compared to more robotic hydrotherapy equipment which is is intended to take the place of a therapist.
• Discuss: Why therapists from most professions can use hydrotherapy to benefit their clients.

Products         (see Hydrotherapy Product Resource Guide Link)

• Discuss: The role products play in most hydrotherapy treatments?
• Discuss: The different types of natural products that can be used during hydrotherapy treatments and some of their benefits.
• Exercise: Have the students (create) write down a some hydrotherapy treatments using natural products.

Hydrotherapy Equipment        (see Hydrotherapy Equipment Resource Guide Link)

• Discuss: The different types of hydrotherapy equipment available for hydrotub, steam, shower and hydromassage treatments.
• Discuss: How to find different sources of hydrotherapy equipment.
• Discuss: The important considerations when choosing hydrotherapy equipment.

Water

• Discuss: The source of water used for a hydrotherapy treatment in the hydrosphere, for example the water comes from local aquifers. Discuss how water is processed the municipal treatment plants in your area. Discuss how once water reaches a spa or wellness facility, how the water is transformed for use in a hydrotherapy treatment. For example, for a heating hydrotub treatment, water must first be heated and then a hydrotub must be filled with the heated water. Products can then be added to water to further transform the water that will come into contact with the client.

Facility

• Generally, hydrotherapy treatments are done in a spa or wellness facility and usually in a special room designed for hydrotherapy treatments. Discuss some of the special features of these rooms, for example a wet-room or a steam room. Discuss special safety issues related to hydrotherapy treatment rooms (see Chapter 6).
• Discuss: How the facility and hydrotherapy treatment room(s) design and decor can enhance the total benefit from hydrotherapy treatments and programs.

Steps of the Treatment (Technique)

• Discuss: How every hydrotherapy treatment follows specific a step-by-step process. The generally includes the following steps: Pre-Treatment, Beginning of Treatment, Treatment, End of the Treatment, Post-Treatment.
• Discuss: How a therapist must be properly trained in the steps for performing a particular type of hydrotherapy treatment on a specific type of hydrotherapy equipment.
• Discuss: How the effects of a specific type of hydrotherapy treatment can be changed by changing, for example, the duration of the treatment, products used during the treatment, or water or steam temperature. The point here is, that the effects and benefits of a specific type of hydrotherapy treatment can be modified by changes in the key elements of the treatment. Therapists, by using their creative skills, knowledge of natural products and experience of doing a specific type of treatment, can further enhance a treatment to benefit a client.

Designing a Hydrotherapy Program

• Discuss: How a hydrotherapy program can be a single hydrotherapy treatment or hydrotherapy treatment that is part of a "package" (combination of treatments). Give example of some the different types of combinations suggested the this chapter.
• Discuss: How most spa and wellness programs, including hydrotherapy treatments and programs, are part of a series of treatments at regular intervals over an extended period of time. Discuss: Why a series of treatments is generally necessary for the client to achieve their intended health & goal.
• Discuss: Today, many clients, with help of professional advice and programs at health & wellness centers, have their own holistic health & wellness program. Discuss how hydrotherapy treatments and programs can be a beneficial part of a personal health & wellness program and how this will often include hydrotherapy treatments and programs for use by the client at home.

Hydrotherapy Treatments

• Discuss: The different general categories of different types of hydrotherapy treatments. Refer to Figure 5-3 Hydrotherapy Treatments
• Discuss: Different types of hydrotherapy treatments for each category?
• Exercise: Have the students list 2 or more types of hydrotherapy treatments for each category.
• Exercise: Have the students design a hydrotherapy program for a hypothetical client.

Special Program for Hydrotherapy

• Discuss: There are some hydrotherapy treatments and programs that require special training by approved education providers. Why do some programs require special, approved education? Examples in this book include:
  WATSU®  (See photo: WATSU®  courtesy of Grace Jull)
  Aquatic Integration
  Kneipp® Holistic Health Program
  Aquatic Therapy Pools
  Ayurveda
  Colon Therapy
  
• Discuss: Ask if any of the students received a treatment or any education in the above mentioned programs.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What are the common elements of hydrotherapy treatments taught in this textbook? Answer: Client, Therapist, Equipment, Products, Water, Technique, Facility

2. What are some of the most important health and wellness goals that clients have? Answer: Daily Wellness, Appearance & Beauty, Fitness, Healthy Aging, Prevention, Enhancement, Symptoms, Rehabilitation, Major Medical

3. How can hydrotherapy treatments help clients achieve all of their health and wellness goals? Answer: Hydrotherapy treatments produce therapeutic changes in all the cells of the body, in the  fluid matrixes and the structural elements of the body.

4. Describe several considerations when deciding to purchase hydrotherapy equipment. Answer: Client comfort, ease of use by the therapist, quality construction (few repair problems).

5. List several different types of hydrotherapy equipment. Answer: Hydrotubs, steam equipment, shower equipment, hydromassage tables.

6. List different types of products that can be used during various types of hydrotherapy treatments. Answer: Herbs, seaweed, algae, mineral salts.

7. Give some examples of single hydrotherapy treatments. Answer: Detoxification steam treatment. Relaxation hydrotub treatment. Relaxation Vichy Shower Treatment. 

8. Give some examples of combination packages of treatments that include one or more hydrotherapy treatments. Answer: Steam therapy treatment combined with a massage. Skincare treatment combined with a Vichy Shower treatment.

9. Explain why hydrotherapy treatments could be of value in holistic health and wellness programs that are designed to help clients achieve all of their health and wellness goals. Answer: The wide range of hydrotherapy treatments provide treatment options to enhance daily wellness, appearance and beauty, fitness, healthy aging and all the other health and wellness goals. Hydrotherapy treatments and programs can be designed to help clients attain and maintain each individual goal and all goals together at the same time.

10. List some different types of hydrotherapy treatments that can be performed using hydrotubs, steam, and shower equipment. Answer: Skincare hydrotub treatment, detoxification steam treatment, relaxation shower treatment, Balanced Hydration Program

11. What are some special hydrotherapy programs that require education by certified educational institutions? Answer: WATSU®, Ayurveda, Kneipp®, Colon Therapy