Rehabilitation in Warm Water — Easier on Your Joints, Effective for Recovery
Hydrotherapy: Rehabilitation in Motion
Hydrotherapy utilises the unique physical properties of warm water—buoyancy, resistance, and hydrostatic pressure—to make movement easier, reduce pain, and accelerate your recovery. For many patients, land-based exercise can feel painful, difficult, or even impossible. Hydrotherapy provides a safe, supported environment to begin strengthening, improving mobility, and rebuilding confidence.
At The Physiotherapy Centre, our hydrotherapy sessions are supervised by experienced clinicians who tailor every exercise to your specific injury and stage of recovery. This is not a group pool class; it is one-to-one physiotherapy or sports therapy delivered in warm water.
We welcome patients from Waterlooville, Portsmouth, Petersfield, Havant, and across Hampshire who are looking for a gentle yet highly effective way to bridge the gap back to full function on dry land.
Conditions We Treat
Hydrotherapy is effective for a wide range of conditions, including:
Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
Following hip replacements, knee replacements, ACL reconstructions, and other orthopaedic procedures. The buoyancy of water reduces weight-bearing through the operated joint, allowing you to begin walking, strengthening, and range-of-movement exercises sooner than you could on land.
Neurological Conditions
Beneficial for patients with stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal cord injuries. The warmth and buoyancy reduce muscle stiffness and spasticity, while the resistance provides a gentle strengthening stimulus. For patients with balance difficulties, the water provides a safe environment to practise standing and walking.
Hip Conditions
Including osteoarthritis, labral tears, and greater trochanteric pain syndrome. Water-based exercise reduces the compressive load through the hip joint while allowing you to work on strength and flexibility.
Knee Conditions
Including osteoarthritis, patellofemoral pain, and post-surgical rehabilitation. Hydrotherapy allows early weight-bearing exercise in a reduced-gravity environment.
Back Conditions
Including chronic low back pain, disc-related problems, and post-spinal-surgery recovery. The warmth of the water helps relax tense muscles, and buoyancy reduces spinal compression.
How We Treat: Our Approach
The Hydrotherapy Pathway
Our hydrotherapy service is designed to be a bridge. It provides the support you need when gravity is your enemy and builds the strength you need to return to life on land.
Assessment & Treatment Planning
Before you enter the water, you will have a land-based assessment with your clinician. This allows us to confirm your diagnosis, establish your current baseline, and set clear, measurable goals. This ensures your water-based programme is targeted to your specific needs rather than being a generic aquatic class. If you are already undergoing treatment at the clinic, hydrotherapy can be integrated seamlessly into your existing recovery plan.
One-to-One Sessions in Warm Water
Every session is supervised by your clinician, who may be poolside or in the water with you to provide manual support and guidance.
- Therapeutic Warmth: The water is maintained at a specific therapeutic temperature (33–35°C). This warmth is vital for relaxing hypertonic (tight) muscles, easing joint stiffness, and improving circulation.
- The Programme: Your session will include a bespoke combination of mobility work, targeted strengthening, balance tasks, and gait retraining (learning to walk again with a normal pattern).
Progression to Land-Based Rehabilitation
Hydrotherapy is a powerful tool, but it is not the final destination. As your strength, stability, and confidence improve, your clinician will strategically transition your exercises to dry land. Many patients find that a hybrid approach—combining pool sessions with gym-based rehabilitation—is the most effective way to build the resilience needed for daily life.
Self-Supervised Sessions
Once you have reached a level of independence where your clinician is confident in your ability to exercise safely, we offer self-supervised sessions at a reduced rate. This allows you to continue your prescribed water-based programme independently, giving you the freedom to maintain your progress at your own pace while still benefiting from our specialist facilities.
What to Expect at Your First Hydrotherapy Session
Preparing for Your Hydrotherapy Session
To ensure your safety and get the most out of your time in the water, we follow a structured intake process.
The Initial Land-Based Assessment
Before your first session in the water, you will attend an initial assessment at the clinic on dry land. This is a critical step to:
- Confirm Suitability: Ensure that hydrotherapy is the most effective and safe treatment for your specific condition.
- Safety Screening: Check for any contraindications, such as certain heart conditions, respiratory issues, or uncontrolled epilepsy.
- Baseline Metrics: Measure your current strength and range of motion so we can track how much the water is helping you progress.
What to Bring & What to Expect on Your First Session
- Kit List: Please bring your swimming costume, a towel, and a padlock for the lockers.
- Poolside Meet: Your clinician will meet you poolside, explain the goals for the day, and guide you through every movement.
- Duration: You will have 30 or 45 minutes of dedicated time in the water.
- No Swimming Required: You do not need to be a strong swimmer. The pool is designed specifically for therapeutic use; it is heated, and you will be able to stand comfortably in your depth throughout the session.
Important Health & Safety Notes
To maintain the highest hygiene and safety standards for all our patients:
- Skin & Wounds: If you have any open wounds, skin conditions, or active infections, please inform the clinic before your session. There may be temporary restrictions on pool use until these have cleared.
- Medical Changes: If there are any changes to your medication or general health between sessions, please let your clinician know.
Pricing and Appointments
-
Initial Assessment (land-based) £89 (60 minutes)
-
Supervised Follow-Up £96 (30 min) or £107 (45 min)
-
Self-Supervised Sessions £147 (10 × 30 min) or £215 (10 × 45 min)
We are recognised providers for Bupa, AXA PPP, Aviva, WPA, and Cigna.
Conveniently Located in Waterlooville
- The Physiotherapy Centre 96 London Road, Widley, Waterlooville, Hampshire, PO7 5AB
- Mon: 8.00–7.00 | Tue: 8.00–7.30 | Wed: 8.00–8.00 | Thu: 8.00–7.00 | Fri: 8.00–5.00 | Sat: 8.30–1.00
- We serve patients from Widley, Purbrook, Waterlooville, Cosham, Havant, Portsmouth, and Petersfield. The clinic is on the old A3 / London Road, just north of Portsdown Hill, near the Hampshire Rose pub. The No. 8 bus (Bushy Mead) stops just up the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be able to swim?
No. Hydrotherapy takes place in a purpose-built therapeutic pool where you will be standing throughout. Swimming ability is not required. Your clinician will be with you at all times.
Is hydrotherapy the same as swimming?
No. Hydrotherapy is a supervised, clinically directed treatment programme carried out in warm water. Every exercise is prescribed specifically for your condition and progression. Swimming laps can be a useful adjunct to recovery, but it is not a substitute for structured hydrotherapy.
How warm is the water?
The pool is maintained at a therapeutic temperature of approximately 33–35°C, which is significantly warmer than a standard swimming pool. This warmth helps relax muscles, reduce pain, and make movement more comfortable.
Can I have hydrotherapy after a hip or knee replacement?
Yes—and it is one of the most common reasons patients are referred for hydrotherapy. The buoyancy of the water allows you to begin walking and strengthening exercises with reduced stress on your new joint. Your surgeon will need to confirm that your wound has fully healed before you enter the pool.
How does hydrotherapy help with neurological conditions?
The warmth of the water reduces muscle stiffness and spasticity, which are common in conditions like MS and stroke. Buoyancy supports your body weight, making it easier to practise standing, stepping, and walking. The water also provides resistance for strengthening, and the hydrostatic pressure can help reduce swelling in the limbs.
How many hydrotherapy sessions will I need?
This depends on your condition and goals. Post-surgical patients typically attend once or twice a week for six to twelve weeks. Patients with chronic conditions may benefit from ongoing sessions. Your clinician will discuss a realistic plan at your initial assessment.
What should I bring to a hydrotherapy session?
A swimming costume, a towel, and a padlock for the locker. If you wear a hearing aid or have any prosthetic devices, discuss this with the clinic in advance.
Can I do hydrotherapy and land-based physiotherapy at the same time?
Yes, and this is often the ideal approach. Many patients benefit from a combination of hydrotherapy and clinic-based physiotherapy or gym-based rehabilitation. Your treatment team will coordinate your programme across both settings.
What are self-supervised sessions?
Once your clinician is confident that you can exercise safely and effectively in the pool on your own, you can book self-supervised sessions at a reduced rate. You will follow the programme your clinician has prescribed, without one-to-one supervision. These are available in blocks of ten.
Can I claim hydrotherapy on my health insurance?
Yes. We are recognised by Bupa, AXA PPP, Aviva, WPA, and Cigna. Contact your insurer for an authorisation number before your first appointment. Please ensure your policy covers hydrotherapy specifically, as some policies distinguish between physiotherapy and aquatic therapy.