What is Hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy is a type of physiotherapy that uses the properties of warm water to help improve movement, strength, and wellbeing. It’s especially helpful for people who experience pain, stiffness, or limited mobility.

In the water, your body feels lighter, making it easier to move and exercise without putting pressure on your joints. This makes hydrotherapy ideal for people recovering from injury, surgery, or living with long-term conditions such as arthritis or neurological disorders.

Sessions are usually held in a warm, shallow pool under the guidance of a trained physiotherapist. Each programme is tailored to your needs and may include gentle movements, stretches, or resistance exercises.

Benefits of Hydrotherapy

  • Reduces pain and muscle tension

  • Improves joint mobility and flexibility

  • Builds strength and balance in a low-impact way

  • Supports relaxation and mental wellbeing

Hydrotherapy is suitable for a wide range of people and can be particularly beneficial for those who find land-based exercises challenging.

Lauren currently runs hydrotherapy sessions from ‘Turning Tides’ Hydro-Spa Pool in Harrogate. This pool is privately owned by a local family. Lauren donates to ‘AbleStay’ Charity to use the pool. As the pool is not a business with PLI, clients must sign a disclaimer to acknowledge that they use this pool at their own risk. 

Lauren also runs hydrotherapy sessions at Henshaws College (after college hours from 4pm – 7pm on certain weekdays) and from Holt Park and Armley Active Hydrotherapy pools in Leeds on certain days of the week.

Lauren also runs ‘Disability Swimming’ / Hydro sessions from Starbeck Baths between Harrogate and Knaresborough, which at 31 degrees C is just below ‘hydrotherapy pool’ temperature, an particularly helpful for clients who may get overheated in a traditional hydro pool.

Each hydrotherapy venue has different accessibility. Lauren will advise clients of the most appropriate pool to access for their needs and each client will have a risk assessment and individual evacuation plan.