What Is Hydrotherapy? Types, Benefits, Risks, and Who It Can Help
Updated: 6 days ago
Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Baraa Alnahhal, MD · Last reviewed: October 2026 · How we review
Quick Answer: What is hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy is the use of water, through baths, pressurized jets, hot and cold applications, or pool exercise, to ease symptoms such as pain, stiffness and swelling. It can support care for osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, Parkinson's disease and burns, but it does not cure disease. Main risks are falls, burns or frostbite, and infection. [1][2]
What the research says
Water exercise modestly eases knee and hip arthritis. A review of 13 trials with 1,190 people found a small short-term improvement: pain and disability scores were about 5 points lower (on a 0–100 scale) than in control groups, with no serious side effects reported. (Bartels et al., Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2016) [2]
Aquatic therapy helps fibromyalgia pain in the short term. In a review of 22 randomized trials, pooled short-term data showed lower pain on the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (mean difference −5.04 points); a trend toward better sleep did not reach statistical significance. (Bravo et al., Sleep Breath, 2024) [3]
Hydrotherapy improves balance in Parkinson's disease. A meta-analysis of 191 physiotherapy trials (7,998 participants) found that hydrotherapy significantly improved balance. (Radder et al., Neurorehabil Neural Repair, 2020) [4]
Key takeaways
Hydrotherapy covers any use of water to relieve symptoms — from a warm bath at home to exercise in a therapy pool. [1]
It relieves symptoms such as pain, stiffness and swelling; it does not cure the underlying condition. [1]
It works best as an add-on to the treatment plan your provider prescribes, not a replacement. [1]
Main risks are slips and falls, burns or frostbite, and infections. [1]
Avoid any treatment that promises to "remove toxins" or "cure diseases." [1]
What is hydrotherapy, and what else is it called?
Hydrotherapy is any treatment that uses water to manage symptoms throughout the body. [1] You may also see it called water therapy, aquatic therapy, pool therapy or balneotherapy. [1][6]
It can be as simple as a warm bath at home. It can also involve special tanks, pools, pressurized jets, hot and cold temperatures, or ice packs. [1]
Water has been used to treat injuries and illness since the beginning of recorded history. Over the last 20 years, researchers have begun to study hydrotherapy as an evidence-based treatment for specific symptoms. [1]
Hydrotherapy is an alternative (naturopathic, non-drug) treatment. In the United States, it is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). [1]
What are the main types of hydrotherapy?
The main types of hydrotherapy are baths, pressurized water jets, temperature therapy with heat or cold, and exercise in pools or tanks. [1] Most have a simple at-home version and a more specialized version done in a clinic. [1]
Type | How it works | At home | In a clinic |
Baths | Soaking in hot or cold water | Warm bath, cold tub after exercise | Special therapy tubs |
Pressurized jets | Streams of water applied to the body | — | Jet treatment, wound cleaning for burns |
Temperature therapy | Heat or cold applied to body areas | Ice packs, heat | Cryo (dry ice) packs, sauna |
Pools and tanks | Low-resistance movement in water | Swimming, water aerobics | Supervised aquatic exercise, underwater treadmill |
Why is hydrotherapy used?
Hydrotherapy is used mainly to relieve pain and stiffness. [1] Your provider may suggest it as one part of a wider treatment or symptom management plan. [1]
Hydrotherapy may help people feel better when they have: [1]
Pain
Stiffness
Bruising
Swelling
Muscle pain
Menstrual pain
What conditions can hydrotherapy help?
Hydrotherapy can relieve symptoms in several long-term conditions, including osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, Parkinson's disease, neuropathy, ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy. [1] In most cases, it helps by temporarily easing pain, stiffness and swelling. [1]
Hydrotherapy does not cure any of these conditions. It should not replace the treatments or medicines your healthcare provider prescribes. [1]
In one trial of 73 women aged 65 and older with knee osteoarthritis, heated-pool exercise twice a week for six weeks improved pain by 11 points and function by 12 points (on 0–100 scales) compared with education alone. [5] For aquatic physical therapy in multiple sclerosis, a review of 11 randomized trials supports combining it with conventional physical therapy. [8]
How does hydrotherapy help with burns?
Hydrotherapy helps burn injuries by using jets of water to clean wounds and burned skin safely and effectively. [1] Pressurized water treatment can also help reduce: [1]
Pain
Redness
Scarring
Permanent discoloration
Burn rehabilitation programs that use water jets on healed skin have reported more even skin color and texture and less itching. [7]
Can hydrotherapy support physical therapy after injury or surgery?
Hydrotherapy can be a helpful add-on to physical therapy while you recover from an injury or surgery, because moving in water offers a low-resistance way to exercise safely. [1] Water aerobics and swimming are good options for people who feel pain during other workouts. [1]
Always check with your surgeon before you exercise after an operation. Tubs, tanks and pools can raise your risk of infection, and you may need to wait a set time before your incision can get wet. [1] If you live with Parkinson's disease, a structured program is described in our guide to Parkinson's physical therapy.
Is hydrotherapy safe during pregnancy?
Hydrotherapy has been shown to be beneficial during pregnancy. [1] One study found that pregnant women with high blood pressure might lower their risk of complications such as preeclampsia with regular hydrotherapy sessions. [1]
Laboring in warm water can increase comfort and reduce pain and anxiety. [1] Talk with your healthcare provider about what you want to include in your pregnancy and labor plan.
Does hydrotherapy help with weight loss?
Hydrotherapy on its own does not cause or speed up weight loss. [1] Exercise plans that include working out in water, however, can help you lose weight and improve your overall health. [1]
Who needs hydrotherapy?
No one strictly needs hydrotherapy, because it is not a standard treatment for any disease, condition or symptom. [1] As research grows, we are learning more about what it does and does not treat well. [1]
If you are interested, ask your provider: [1]
How hydrotherapy might benefit you
Which type of water therapy suits your condition
What you need to know before you start
Hydrotherapy is very common. If you have taken a bath with Epsom salt or relaxed in a cold tub after a workout, you have already used a form of it. More involved forms are less common because they need special equipment and facilities. [1]
What happens before, during, and after hydrotherapy?
Before hydrotherapy, talk with a healthcare provider — even for an at-home routine — because certain temperatures or uses of water can carry side effects or risks. [1]
During hydrotherapy, what happens depends on the type you receive. It can be as simple as a bath or shower at home, or a session with jets, heat, cold or pool exercise at a dedicated clinic. [1]
After hydrotherapy, most applications need no special follow-up. If you are using it for a specific condition or symptom, tell your provider about any changes you notice. [1]
What are the benefits and risks of hydrotherapy?
The main benefit of hydrotherapy is symptom relief without medicines or more invasive treatment; the main risks are accidents, temperature injuries and infection. [1] When a licensed, certified provider delivers it, hydrotherapy is very safe and has few or no side effects. [1]
Benefits | Risks |
Reduces symptoms without medicine | Slips, falls or other accidents |
Non-invasive | Burns from heat or frostbite from extreme cold (see ice burns) |
Little to no recovery time | Infections from tubs, tanks or pools |
Very safe with a licensed, certified provider | Unsafe "cure-all" marketing |
Because hydrotherapy is not regulated by the FDA, unproven claims about it have spread online. [1] Avoid any treatment that says it removes toxins or cures diseases. These claims have not been proven in scientific studies, are often untrue, and can be dangerous. [1]
Natural medicine has many useful and culturally important uses. Make sure you receive treatment from certified providers; licensed naturopathic doctors are trained and accredited by recognized professional associations and medical colleges. [1]
What is the recovery time after hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy has little to no recovery time, so most people return to their usual activities right away. [1] If you receive hydrotherapy as part of a treatment plan for an injury, burn or specific condition, follow your provider's instructions on next steps. [1]
When should you see a healthcare provider about hydrotherapy?
You should talk to your provider right away if you notice any of these signs during or after hydrotherapy: [1]
New or worsening pain
Swelling
Discoloration of the skin
Rashes or hives
Hydrotherapy at a glance
Question | Short answer |
What is it? | Using water in different forms and temperatures to relieve symptoms |
Main uses | Pain, stiffness, swelling, muscle pain |
Does it cure disease? | No — it relieves symptoms only |
Recovery time | Little to none |
Main risks | Falls, burns or frostbite, infection |
Before starting | Talk to your healthcare provider |
Conclusion
Hydrotherapy is one of the oldest and simplest ways to feel better. Used well, water can ease pain, stiffness and swelling, support recovery after injury, and make exercise easier when your joints hurt. The evidence shows real but modest benefits for conditions such as osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and Parkinson's disease — always as an add-on to medical care, never a cure.
Before you start, talk with your healthcare provider about which type of water therapy fits your condition, and choose a licensed, certified provider for anything beyond a home bath.
Want to understand your condition better? Explore our plain-language guides to knee osteoarthritis, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis, and share this article with someone who could benefit from gentler, water-based symptom relief.
FAQ
What is hydrotherapy used for?
Hydrotherapy is used mainly to relieve pain, stiffness, swelling, bruising, muscle pain and menstrual pain. Providers may add it to treatment plans for conditions such as osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, Parkinson's disease and burns.
Is hydrotherapy the same as aquatic therapy?
Hydrotherapy and aquatic therapy are closely related terms for using water to treat symptoms. Hydrotherapy is the broader term and also covers baths, pressurized jets, saunas and ice packs, while aquatic or pool therapy usually means exercise in water.
Does hydrotherapy really work?
Hydrotherapy works for symptom relief, but the effect is usually modest. A review of 13 trials found water exercise lowered knee and hip arthritis pain by about 5 points on a 0–100 scale, and hydrotherapy improved balance in Parkinson's disease.
Can hydrotherapy cure arthritis or other diseases?
Hydrotherapy cannot cure arthritis or any other disease. It temporarily eases symptoms such as pain and stiffness and should never replace the treatments or medicines your healthcare provider prescribes.
What are the risks of hydrotherapy?
The risks of hydrotherapy are slips and falls, burns from heat or frostbite from extreme cold, and infections from tubs, tanks or pools. When a licensed, certified provider delivers it, hydrotherapy is very safe with few or no side effects.
Can I do hydrotherapy at home?
Hydrotherapy can be done at home with a warm bath, a cold soak after exercise, or ice packs and heat. Talk to your healthcare provider first, because some temperatures or uses of water can carry risks for certain conditions.
Is hydrotherapy safe after surgery?
Hydrotherapy after surgery is safe only once your surgeon approves it. Tubs, tanks and pools raise infection risk, and you may need to wait a set time before your incision can get wet.
When should I stop hydrotherapy and see a doctor?
Stop hydrotherapy and contact your provider right away if you notice new or worsening pain, swelling, skin discoloration, or rashes or hives.
Who should talk to a doctor before trying hydrotherapy?
Talk to your provider first if you are pregnant, recovering from surgery, have heart disease, open wounds, an infection, or reduced feeling in your skin. These can make some water temperatures or settings unsafe.
Is warm water or cold water better for hydrotherapy?
Warm water can ease stiffness and relax muscles, while cold water or ice can help reduce swelling after exercise or injury. Your provider can tell you which suits your condition.
Related Reading
Physical Therapy for Cerebral Palsy: Goals, Exercises and Benefits explains physical therapy for children with cerebral palsy.
References
Cleveland Clinic. Hydrotherapy: What It Is, Benefits & Uses. Cleveland Clinic. Last updated May 23, 2022. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23137-hydrotherapy
Bartels EM, Juhl CB, Christensen R, et al. Aquatic exercise for the treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;3(3):CD005523. PMID 27007113. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005523.pub3
Bravo C, Rubí-Carnacea F, Colomo I, et al. Aquatic therapy improves self-reported sleep quality in fibromyalgia patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Breath. 2024;28(2):565-583. PMID 37847348. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-023-02933-x
Radder DLM, Lígia Silva de Lima A, Domingos J, et al. Physiotherapy in Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Present Treatment Modalities. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2020;34(10):871-880. PMID 32917125. https://doi.org/10.1177/1545968320952799
Dias JM, Cisneros L, Dias R, et al. Hydrotherapy improves pain and function in older women with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Braz J Phys Ther. 2017;21(6):449-456. PMID 28733093. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjpt.2017.06.012
Mooventhan A, Nivethitha L. Scientific evidence-based effects of hydrotherapy on various systems of the body. N Am J Med Sci. 2014;6(5):199-209. PMID 24926444. https://doi.org/10.4103/1947-2714.132935
Moufarrij S, Deghayli L, Raffoul W, et al. How important is hydrotherapy? Effects of dynamic action of hot spring water as a rehabilitative treatment for burn patients in Switzerland. Ann Burns Fire Disasters. 2014;27(4):184-191. PMID 26336365. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26336365/
Amedoro A, Berardi A, Conte A, et al. The effect of aquatic physical therapy on patients with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2020;41:102022. PMID 32114368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2020.102022
Medical disclaimer
This article is for general educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to a qualified healthcare provider before starting hydrotherapy or any new treatment, especially if you are pregnant, recovering from surgery, or living with a long-term condition.
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