Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy has been widely used in physiotherapy since ancient times and is now successfully used in SPA resorts. Hydrotherapy procedures are divided according to the temperature of the water into cold( conditionally, with a water temperature below 25 ° C), cool( water temperature 25 to 32 ° C), warm( water temperature 36 to 38 ° C) and hot( water temperaturehigher than 38 ° C).Intermediate water temperature from 34 to 35 ° C is considered indifferent.

Hydrotherapeutic procedures are divided into two large groups: general and local.

The first group of hydropathic procedures includes:

• showers of all kinds;

• douches of all kinds;

• wiping of all kinds;

• wrapping of all kinds( or wrapping);

• baths of all types( except hand, foot and sit);

• irrigation of all types;

• Warmer;

• compress, etc.

Compress is the simplest, elementary type of hydrotherapy, it is a special bandage that is moistened with various fluids depending on the purpose. The fluids used are different: water, cold or hot( or warm), medicinal solutions, vinegars( apple, wine, tea).Depending on the disease, the compress is performed cold, hot, warming and medicinal.

Compression technique. The gauze cloth is moistened in water( cold or hot) or in a medicinal solution( or in a solution of vinegar of apple, wine, tea), then lightly squeezed( but not dripped with water or solution) and applied to the impact site( or lesion,damage), top put a special compress( or waxed) paper or polyethylene film, or medical oilcloth, then put a cotton wool, napkin or flannel fabric and fix it with an elastic bandage. Cold compress is not fixed thoroughly, because it has to be changed frequently - after 5-10 minutes. The warming compress is held fixed for several hours and is changed as it cools. These compresses are used mainly for local inflammatory processes, bruises, light injuries and with the consequences of traumatic injuries.

Wiping is a simple hydrotherapy procedure, in which the body is exposed to a wafer with a rough towel soaked in relatively cool water at a temperature of 30 to 32 ° C( or a special large-sized massage mantle).Wiping is performed in a general way - throughout the body or partial - when it is applied sequentially to individual parts of the body( legs, arms, etc.).The general wiping is usually carried out using a coarse linen sheet soaked in water at a temperature of 30 to 32 ° C, in which the patient is wrapped and through it energetic movements massage the body for 2-4 minutes. After that, the wet sheet is replaced with dry terry, quickly wipe the patient and, wrapped in a blanket, put him to rest. Wiping is a refreshing, tonic procedure of elementary hydrotherapy, which improves blood circulation, trains the nervous system.

Pouring is a procedure of elementary hydrotherapy, it is carried out with the aim of improving blood circulation, improving vitality, training the nervous system. Pouring is carried out in general - the whole body and partial( local) any part of the body, according to the arisen need. Pouring is carried out first with warm water with a temperature of 36- 38 ° C, the water temperature is gradually reduced to 22-20 ° C.The whole course of hydrotherapy for doucheing is from 20 to 30 procedures. To increase the effect of water therapy in a ten-liter bucket of water, add a glass of table salt iodized salt( about 150 g).The patient is poured water gradually, picking up the bucket of water( with salt), then with plain water and immediately rubbed with vigorous, massaging movements, using a large waffle or linen towel. Local douchement is used rarely, mainly in the lower limbs to stimulate blood circulation in various diseases.

General wet wrapping - one of the types of elementary hydrotherapy, in which:

• stimulation of metabolic processes in the human body;

• regulation of the nervous system in hypersthenic form of neurasthenia;

• lowering of body temperature in febrile patients.

The same procedure is also called wrapping( for example, anti-cellulite wrapping).This procedure is carried out using a wet sheet moistened in water at a temperature of 20-22 ° C and then wrung out. Over the wet sheet, wrapping with a warm woolen blanket. The duration of this procedure is from 25 to 55 minutes. Depending on the duration of the procedure in the process of hydrotherapy, 3 periods of action are distinguished. The first period is characterized by increased heart rate and deepening of breathing.

A similar procedure is prescribed:

• a febrile patient( as a tonic);

• asthenics;

• convalescent.

Its duration is from 15 to 20 minutes.

The second period of the procedure begins after 20 minutes of exposure, while due to the equalization of skin temperature and the adjacent sheets, sharp thermal irritation stops and a calming effect on the nervous system appears, which causes a drowsy state and even sleep. Therefore, in some cases this procedure of hydrotherapy is prescribed for insomnia, increased excitability of the nervous system and even for the first stage of hypertension.

The third period of the wet wrapping( or wrapping) procedure begins after the treatment has lasted for more than 40 minutes, while the temperature of the bed sheet and skin increases, which is accompanied by profuse sweating. This phenomenon is used to conduct hydrotherapy procedures for various metabolic disorders in the body, obesity( as well as cellulite), gout and for detoxification( with some forms of poisoning with toxic substances).Procedures for general wet wrapping( or wrapping) are prescribed strictly taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.