Therapy plays a very significant role in an athlete’s life. It is useful in optimizing overall performance, muscular flexibility, preventing injury and enhancing recovery in athletes. Besides traditional modes of therapies, such as, heat and cold therapy, ultrasound therapy, orthotic therapy, etc., athletes now choose to adopt modern therapies like cryotherapy, HBOT, myofascial therapy, etc., to enhance recovery by preventing injury in a more efficient and advanced manner.

Hydrotherapy is also one such technologically advanced therapy. Hydrotherapy or water therapy, refers to the usage of water to cure physical injuries by using various forms, physical properties and temperature of water. It is popular among many athletes, especially golfers, because it works without medicines and other invasive modes of treatment that causes a lot of side effects. Hydrotherapy can range from taking warm bath at home to pressurized jets. Some of the popular versions of hydrotherapy can be as follows:

• Water Aerobics
• Jogging in water
• Aquatic Plyometrics
• Core strengthening exercises under water
• Balancing and coordinating under water

In the last twenty years, medical specialists have identified multiple uses and benefits of hydrotherapy for athletes. Athletes use hydrotherapy primarily for reducing and stiffness of joints and muscles, and enhancing overall performance. Other beneficial uses of hydrotherapy include:

• Water’s buoyancy helps in relaxing muscles and joints thus relieving pain and stiffness and makes movement easier.
• The hydrostatic pressure of water reduces inflammation and enhances circulation.
• Warm water helps in relaxing muscles and improving blood flow, while cold water assists in reducing swelling, inflammation and numbing pain.
• Walking or jogging under water helps in building natural resistance of the muscles and joints and enhances muscular strength.
• For players who need intense training, such as athletes and football players, hydrotherapy is particularly very useful as it minimizes stress on joints, rejuvenates muscle fitness and enhances mobility.

Apart from the known and proven usefulness of hydrotherapy among sports persons, it is popular among golfers for many reasons. Golfers need strong grips and flexible hand movements, proper posture, and good swing in order to perform well. At times, golfers suffer from stiff shoulders, lower back problems and even rotator cuff strains. This is where hydrotherapy comes into function. It rehabilitates injury and pain directly that affects the performance of a golfer. In fact, hydrotherapy also assists in reducing levels of anxiety and stress, and enhancing powers of positive visualization and unwavering concentration, by relaxing the mind and the body simultaneously. These allow a golfer to have both balance of body and mind, that allows him or her to maintain a steady golf stance.

Many champion golfers and sports persons have been seen talking about hydrotherapy as one of their most favourite therapy technique in various interviews and public statements. Renowned golfers Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson use hydrotherapy as a recovery method against various surgeries and arthritis related problems. Players like Serena Williams, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricky Ponting are some other reputed players who have chosen hydrotherapy for muscle recovery and injury management.