Tallulah-Honey Wyard (2024) A Survey of Healthcare Professionals’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Hydrotherapy on Improving Patient Mobility Compared to On-Land Interventions

The research dissertation by Tallulah-Honey Wyard focuses on exploring healthcare professionals’ perceptions of hydrotherapy’s effectiveness in improving patient mobility compared to land-based interventions. The study highlights that despite hydrotherapy’s known therapeutic benefits, it is underutilized in clinical practice, and aims to understand the barriers and potential solutions to its broader implementation.

Hydrotherapy, which involves therapeutic exercises in water, is noted for its unique physical properties like buoyancy, resistance, and hydrostatic pressure, which can be particularly beneficial for patients with mobility issues. These properties allow for a reduction in joint stress and can enhance movement and exercise in a way that land-based interventions cannot always replicate. The study confirms that many healthcare professionals recognize these benefits, particularly for populations with severe mobility impairments or pain during movement.

However, several barriers to the use of hydrotherapy are identified, including financial constraints, lack of awareness among healthcare professionals, and accessibility issues, such as the limited availability of appropriate facilities. These factors contribute to its underutilization in clinical settings, despite the positive outcomes it can produce.

Potential solutions suggested include increasing education and awareness among healthcare professionals about the benefits and applications of hydrotherapy, integrating hydrotherapy into more comprehensive rehabilitation programs, and enhancing funding and resources to make hydrotherapy more accessible.