Group underwater physiotherapy

Group underwater physiotherapy must involve patients of same or similar conditions who do not require manual control or leading of the movement and who are capable of performing an exercise routine by oral control/correction. The advantage of group exercises is that the positive group dynamic factors apply: patients support, encourage each other, and they can help each other when working in pairs or groups.Underwater physiotherapy has become a very popular and highly effective method of treatment. The force needed to perform movements on land and the muscle work is affected by gravity and external resistance. In contrast, a much smaller force of gravity prevails in water (depending on the depth of the water). Moving in water is affected by the water's physical strength, its chemical content and its temperature. Moving in water is essentially influenced by the hydrodynamic effects of the water, i.e. buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, vortices, waves, flows, friction and the relative density of water. Water temperature affects the body's heat production and mostly the muscle tones (in terms of movement). Buoyancy affects a body or body part immersed in water, making the relaxed body or body part move towards the surface of the water, so it can generate a movement even passively, while it also helps active movements towards the surface, depending on the speed of the movement. This means that buoyancy makes upward movements easier. (see balneotherapy) This effect can be strengthened by using flotation objects that are lighter than water. These can be used to facilitate the movement or make it more difficult (when pushed downward in the water), or to achieve lying on the water, to facilitate floating. Movement in water creates waves and eddies that make the movement more difficult, so it requires stronger muscle function. Walking/moving in the water is definitely good if the lower limbs should be less loaded or unloaded. A sufficient depth of water supports the body from all directions, meaning less chance of falling and injury. Movement in water affects various parts of the locomotor system, the circulatory system, the respiratory system and the nervous system. It can be used for all kinds of rehabilitation in all ages for therapeutic purposes.The aim of underwater physiotherapy is to lower the burden on the lower extremities, to reduce the load, to increase the extent of the movements and the muscle strength, and to improve movement coordination and balance. Teaching walking without sticks and crutches can be started early in waters of adequate depth, then by carefully varying the depth, the load on the lower extremities can be gradually increased, making it easier to transition to full load on the lower limbs. Movement in water affects circulation and respiration, so it stimulates the functioning of both systems. Circulatory exercises can be performed in water (hydrostatic pressure helps the venous return), as well as exercise training, etc.