Hydrotherapy
Why Canine Hydrotherapy?
Below are just some of the physical benefits that can be appreciated with regular swim therapy.
In addition hydrotherapy also provides key mental and emotional stimulation such as relaxation, a sense of wellbeing, and activating endorphins.
Gentle Exercise
Swim therapy provides low-impact exercise and increases heart-rate without stressing painful joints.
Weight Management
One minute of swimming is equivalent to 4 minutes of running allowing for maximum calorie expenditure.
Maintaining and Building Muscle
Resistance in water is 15-20 times that of resistance in air. Therefore muscles are working harder to move in water than on land.
Rehabilitation
After an injury rehabilitation swimming combined with massage therapy allows for the gradual progression and return towards more normal function. Swim therapy allows for exercise to continue while land-based exercise is still restricted.
Improved Mobility
Warm water swim therapy allows for increased joint range of motion and reduces joint stiffness. It also has been shown to increase soft-tissue extensibility.
Improve Circulation
The warm water dilates blood vessels while hydrostatic pressure increases fluid flow. Together this increases circulation and helps to reduce fluid build up.