OCS7

Student/Therapist Resources

Purpose of the Chapter 7: Hydrotherapy Treatments

Purpose of Chapter 7

For the Student to understand:

To gain the knowledge and skills to perform treatments in the major categories of hydrotherapy treatments, including hydrotub, underwater hydromassage, steam, shower, table hydromassage, hot & cold compress, cyrotherapy and misting.
To gain the knowledge and skills to determine the specific health & wellness goals a client using the Client Interview Form. Client Interview Form Link
To gain the knowledge and skills to be able to recommend a hydrotherapy treatment program help a client achieve and maintain their health & wellness goals. This includes individual treatments, combination "package" of treatments, series of treatments, hydrotherapy program as part of client's personal holistic health & wellness program including a home hydrotherapy program.

Lesson: Hydrotherapy Treatments

Education for the General Categories of Hydrotherapy Treatments and education in performing Specific Hydrotherapy Treatments.

General Categories of Hydrotherapy Treatments
Discuss: Each major category of hydrotherapy therapy treatments, for example steam treatments, has unique key elements associated with that category, including behavior of water, anatomy & physiology including short and long term benefits, hydrotherapy equipment, products, contraindications, safety considerations and steps of the treatments. By understanding these key elements of each of the major categories of hydrotherapy treatments, a student should be able to easily learn and perform hydrotherapy treatments for a category and even design unique treatments in that category to meet the special needs of clients.
Specific Hydrotherapy Treatments
For a specific hydrotherapy treatment category (This would be done as a series of lessons, depending on the time available, as well as the hydrotherapy equipment that is available)
Discuss: Each of the key elements of the a specific category of a hydrotherapy treatment, for example steam treatments.
Exercise: Have the student(s) perform different types of hydrotherapy treatments in that category, for example a steam relaxation treatment and a steam detoxification treatment. While students are leaning to perform a specific type of hydrotherapy treatment, discuss the the different key elements of the treatment that apply to that specific category of hydrotherapy treatment.

Determining Hydrotherapy Treatments & Programs recommendations as part of a Client's Health & Wellness program

These recommendations are generally in combination with other types of treatments, for example massage and esthetic treatments, that are being offered.

The type of recommendations that will be possible are going to be determined by the type of hydrotherapy equipment that is available, the type of therapists providing the treatments and the health & wellness theme/goals of the facility (business) offering the hydrotherapy treatments and programs.

Steps

First: During the Client Interview, use the Client Interview Form, determine the specific health & wellness goals of the client. Client Interview Form Link
Second: Using a combination of the Hydrotherapy Treatments (see photos shown below) and information shown in the Hydrotherapy Program Chart (Hydrotherapy Treatment Categories and Benefits Link), design a hydrotherapy program for the client, including:

1. Single Hydrotherapy Treatments
2. Hydrotherapy Treatment as part of "package" treatment - combine with other treatments
3. Single hydrotherapy treatment or a package treatment as part of a series of treatments over a schedule period of time
4. Hydrotherapy program as part of the client's personal holistic health & wellness program, including home programs

Customizing the Treatment: Unique hydrotherapy treatments can be designed for specific types of treatment goals by controlling/choosing the various key elements of the hydrotherapy treatment, including:

Water: temperature, pressure, points of contact with the client's body
Duration of the Treatment: short, medium, long
Products: The specific product or products used (see Hydrotherapy Equipment & Product Resource Guide Link)
Hydrotherapy Equipment: type of hydrotherapy equipment, e.g. more comfortable equipment will produce better results for the client (see Hydrotherapy Equipment & Product Resource Guide Link)
Therapist: Training, experience, natural skills
Client: Past experiences with water and hydrotherapy treatments. Ability (willingness) to provide feedback to client.
Steps of the Treatment: A better designed treatment with proper step-by-step instructions, will provide a better treatment
Facility: A treatment room and facility with better design features for hydrotherapy treatments and programs, will enhance the results of the program.

Note: This allows a development of hydrotherapy treatments specifically for the treatment programs and goals of a particular spa, skin care and wellness center and also the development of hydrotherapy treatments specifically for an individual clients.

Hydrotherapy Program Chart

Hydrotherapy Program Chart: Link ( Health & Wellness Goals related to Hydrotherapy Treatment Categories and Benefits)

Explanation of the Hydrotherapy Program Chart

Step 1

The chart allow a therapist or student to find the benefits of hydrotherapy treatments in a particular category, which are listed on the top line of the chart, which include:

Hydrotub Hydromassage Steam (inhalation) Shower Hydromassage Table Hot & Cold Compresses (cryotherapy) Misting Hydroballoon Hydration

and related this to one of the categories of Client Health & Wellness Benefits, including:

Daily Wellness Appearance & Beauty Fitness Healthy Aging Prevention Enhancement Symptoms Rehabilitation Major Medical

For example, the key benefits for Hydrotub treatment for the goal Fitness are: Relaxation Heating Cooling Bodywork

A description of each of the categories of benefits, including: Circulation, Relaxation, Heating, Cooling, Products, Bodywork, Skincare, Hydration
is provide in the boxes below the Hydrotherapy Program Chart

Step 2

Choosing a Hydrotherapy Treatment: Depending on the type of hydrotherapy equipment available, choose a hydrotherapy treatments for specific health & wellness goals of a client that provide the desired benefits.

Step 3

It is then possible to customize the hydrotherapy treatment in various ways, including:

Use of a specific type of product in the treatment. The quality of the product will also influence the outcome of the treatment as well as factors such as the amount of product used.
Length of time of treatment.
Changes in key elements of the behavior of water in the treatment, for example, the temperature or pressure of the water.
Amount of personal attention given to the client during the treatment

Examples of Choosing Hydrotherapy Treatments & Programs for a Specific Client

The following are some examples of choosing hydrotherapy treatments and programs in meeting the needs of a specific client:

Examples: Client One Client Two Client Three Client Four

Hydrotherapy Treatments

Hydrotherapy Treatments presented in Chapter 7

Steam Therapy Treatments	Hydrotub Treatments	Underwater Hydromassage Treatments	Hydrotherapy Shower Treatments	Hydromassage Table Treatments
Relaxation Page 185	Relaxation Page 221	Lymphatic Hydromassage Page 241	Vichy Shower Page 258	Hydromassage Table Techniques Page 273 - 277
Exfoliation Page 197	Detoxification Page 223	Reflexology Page 243
Massage Preparation Page 199	Full-Body Skin Care Page 225	Reflexology Chart 243	Swiss Shower Page 262
Detoxification Page 201	Preparation for Massage Treatments Page 227	Shiatsu Massage Page 245	Handheld Shower Page 265
Full-Body Skin Care Page 203	Massage and Body Work Page 229	Shiatsu Chart Page 245	Large Handheld Shower Page 265
Enhancement Page 205	Body Work- Hydro-Balloon Page 229	Pressure Point Chart Page 245	Hair & Scalp Shower Treatment Page 267
Inhalation Page 207	Flotation Page 232	Cellulite Page 248
Color Light Therapy Page 239		Cellular/Vascular Hydromassage Page 250
	Breathing Therapy Page 235
	Crystal Energy Page 237

Hydrotherapy Misting	Hot & Cold Compresses	Dry Hydromassage	Balanced Hydration Program
Misting Techniques Page 281	Hot & Cold Compress Page 289	Hydro-Balloon Page 293	Chapter 4: Page 87
	Cryotherapy Page 284