Recovery after surgery is different for every patient. Depending on the procedure, stage of recovery and individual rehabilitation goals, hydrotherapy may provide a supportive environment in which to begin or progress movement and exercise.
Post-surgical hydrotherapy uses the physical properties of warm water to support rehabilitation. Buoyancy can reduce the amount of body weight being supported, while water resistance can be used progressively to work on movement, strength, balance and control.
At Bluebell Hydro & Physio, our hydrotherapy service in Birmingham can form part of an individual rehabilitation programme following surgery when aquatic therapy is clinically appropriate.
What is post-surgical hydrotherapy?
Post-surgical hydrotherapy is physiotherapy-based rehabilitation performed in a specialist warm-water environment following an operation.
Rather than following the same programme for every patient, exercises should be selected according to the type of surgery, current mobility, medical restrictions and rehabilitation goals.
Hydrotherapy may be considered at an appropriate stage of recovery following certain orthopaedic procedures, including hip or knee replacement and other musculoskeletal surgery.
It can also be combined with land-based rehabilitation as part of a broader orthopaedic and post-surgical rehabilitation programme.
How can hydrotherapy support recovery after surgery?
The aquatic environment changes how the body experiences movement and exercise. This can provide useful rehabilitation options at different stages of recovery.
Reduced weight-bearing through buoyancy
Buoyancy supports part of the body’s weight while in the water. This can reduce loading through joints and may allow certain movements to be practised differently from on land.
For patients recovering from lower-limb surgery, this can provide another environment in which to work on movement and functional rehabilitation when clinically appropriate.
Progressive resistance for strengthening
Water provides resistance as the body moves through it. A physiotherapist can use this resistance to progressively challenge muscle strength, control and endurance.
The exercises and level of resistance can be adapted according to the patient’s stage of recovery and response to treatment.
Movement and range of motion
Following surgery, stiffness or reduced movement can form part of the rehabilitation process.
The support provided by water may allow selected mobility and range-of-motion exercises to be performed in a controlled aquatic environment.
Balance and movement confidence
Some patients feel less confident moving after an operation, particularly following surgery affecting walking or weight-bearing.
The aquatic environment can provide additional support while appropriate movement, balance and functional activities are practised under professional supervision.
When can you start hydrotherapy after surgery?
There is no single timeframe that applies to every operation or every patient.
Before entering a hydrotherapy pool following surgery, factors such as wound healing, infection risk, medical restrictions and the type of procedure need to be considered.
Your surgeon, consultant or physiotherapist may need to confirm that aquatic rehabilitation is appropriate for your stage of recovery.
Starting hydrotherapy too early is not the objective. The priority is to introduce it at an appropriate point within the overall rehabilitation programme.
Hydrotherapy after hip replacement
Following hip replacement surgery, rehabilitation commonly focuses on restoring mobility, strength, walking ability and functional independence.
When medically appropriate, hydrotherapy may provide an additional environment for practising selected movements and exercises while buoyancy reduces loading through the body.
A hydrotherapy programme following hip replacement may include exercises addressing:
- Walking and gait-related movement
- Hip movement within appropriate precautions
- Lower-limb strength
- Balance and control
- Functional mobility
The programme must take account of the surgical procedure, any precautions provided by the surgical team and the patient’s individual recovery.
Hydrotherapy after knee replacement
Hydrotherapy may also be considered as part of rehabilitation following knee replacement surgery.
Depending on the stage of recovery, aquatic exercises may be used to work on knee movement, lower-limb strength, balance, walking and functional activity.
Because water supports part of the body’s weight, some patients may find certain movements different to perform in the pool compared with land-based rehabilitation.
However, progression should remain individual and based on clinical assessment rather than on a standard programme or timetable.
What about other types of orthopaedic surgery?
Aquatic rehabilitation may also be considered following other orthopaedic procedures when appropriate.
These may include some forms of:
- ACL and other knee surgery
- Shoulder surgery
- Spinal surgery
- Fracture-related surgery
- Other lower-limb orthopaedic procedures
Suitability depends on the operation performed, medical guidance and the patient’s individual presentation.
Post-surgical hydrotherapy vs land-based physiotherapy
Hydrotherapy and land-based physiotherapy should not necessarily be viewed as competing treatments.
They provide different rehabilitation environments and can complement each other.
Hydrotherapy allows a physiotherapist to use buoyancy and water resistance when working on movement and exercise. Land-based physiotherapy allows rehabilitation to be progressed under normal gravitational and weight-bearing conditions and may also include assessments or interventions that cannot be performed in the pool.
Patients requiring post-operative physiotherapy can learn more about Bluebell’s post-surgical physiotherapy and wider orthopaedic and post-surgical rehabilitation.
What happens during a post-surgical hydrotherapy session?
Before beginning aquatic rehabilitation, the physiotherapist will consider your surgery, current stage of recovery, mobility and rehabilitation goals.
The exercises performed in the pool will depend on these factors and may include supported walking, mobility exercises, strengthening activities, balance work or functional movement practice.
The programme can then be adjusted as your rehabilitation progresses.
If you have never attended hydrotherapy before, read our guide explaining what to expect during your first hydrotherapy session.
Is hydrotherapy suitable after every operation?
No. Hydrotherapy is not automatically appropriate following every surgical procedure.
Factors including wound healing, infection risk, cardiovascular or respiratory considerations, mobility, medical restrictions and the nature of the surgery may affect whether and when treatment in a hydrotherapy pool is suitable.
A physiotherapist should consider these factors before aquatic rehabilitation begins, and medical clearance may be required in some circumstances.
Post-surgical hydrotherapy in Birmingham at Bluebell
Bluebell Hydro & Physio provides specialist hydrotherapy and physiotherapy for people with a range of rehabilitation needs in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands.
For post-surgical patients, treatment is based on individual assessment rather than a standard recovery programme. Where appropriate, hydrotherapy can be integrated with land-based physiotherapy as rehabilitation progresses.
Learn more about our Hydrotherapy service in Birmingham or contact Bluebell to discuss your rehabilitation needs with our team.
