The hydrotheraphy consists rather of the use of the water not by its chemical properties but by their physical properties. In the hydrotheraphy the patient benefits from the application of water to different pressure and baths with water that can be cold or warms up.
The immersion in hot water baths increases the corporal temperature and favor the expansion of the blood vessels with which the irrigation of blood in the skin and muscles is increased.
The cold water baths lead to the constriction of the blood vessels reducing the peripheral irrigation of blood, as much in the skin as in muscles, favoring and increasing the circulation in the internal organs.
Several forms exist to use the water in hidroterapia:
- The baths, in which hot water can be used in which case the body can remain immersed during half an hour, with water fry the duration is limited about five minutes, and if we combined cold water and it warms up is possible to be applied respectively during 5 and 10 minutes. The baths are recommended in problems of arthritis, circulatory diseases of the skin or upheavals, however they do not advise this type of therapeutic baths in the cardiac problems or cases of hypertension.
- The washings consist of applying with a cloth water in the zones of the body that interests.
- The inhalations are used mainly in treatments for respiratory diseases and in the hot water some type of extract or grass usually is added that helps to clear the respiratory system. The steam also are used in beauty treatments.
- The spurts usually are applied in many bath and consist of water spurts to different pressure and temperature that are applied on the patient.