Aquatherapy, (Water Therapy or Hydrotherapy) Properties

Dolphins provide a unique place to encounter them,... in the water.

Aquatherapy, water therapy, or hydrotherapy are alternative healing treatments which seem to be the most common terms that use the properties of water as a health benefit.

These are all slightly different and the closest to what might happen with dolphins would seem to be aquatherapy. This is basically using the water modality to gain better movement, to provide stress relief, help strengthen muscles and provide a place for exercises that cannot be done on land by some individuals. Water therapy actually seems to be more about the health benefits of drinking enough water everyday, and not necessarily about being in water. Hydrotherapy also seems to have more of a focus in the temperature of the water and its benefits from cold to warm waters and different ways to use these. But all of these terms seem to be used interachangebly in the public spear, so this is my attempt to look at the differences between them.

But in dolphin encounters or therapy programs or even swimming with wild dolphins also includes the properties of being in water which is unique to this animal. The effect of water is usually very relaxing and stress-relieving (unless its too cold!), and provides a natural buoyancy where you feel light, weightless, and movements are easy, because gravity is no longer pulling everything down. This is a great benefit which you can see in the dolphin, fluid movements, and a sense of carefree swimming.

I mentioned in the encounters page about one study by Webb & Drummond (2001) that researched two groups of people in regards to dolphin therapy. One group swam in the ocean without dolphins, and one group swam in the ocean with dolphins. Both groups showed increased wellness (perhaps the properties of being in the water itself!), but only the group that swam with the dolphins also showed decreased anxiety levels.

Combining different types of therapeutic techniques can bring a synergistic effect sometimes, or equalling more health benefits. This is perhaps another reason behind how dolphin therapy works.

Return from aquatherapy to dolphin therapy page.