Adult Hydrotherapy: A Practical Approach.

Adult Hydrotherapy: A Practical Approach

Campion MR. Stoneham, MA 02180, Heinemann Medical Books, 1990, 205 pp, illus, $42.95. This book has 12 contributing authors, all of whom are experts in their respective areas of treating patients on land as well as in the water. The stated purpose of this book is to present a practical hydrotherapy guide that can be used in a variety of conditions and that will stimulate therapists to develop "lateral thinking in order that the treatment programs they conduct in water be enhanced." This purpose has been clearly achieved. The book provides information on general hydrodynamical principles and their effect on specific patients, as well as information on interesting ways of utilizing water as an effective and enjoyable medium for the overall rehabilitation of patients presenting a variety of needs. Section 1 provides an overview of hydrotherapy, including the mechanics of fluids, physiological effects and modern techniques of therapeutic swimming, and underwater exercise. The author points out the important differences between-exercising on land and in water that can be attributable to different forces and the importance of special assessments and recordings for water treatments. Section 2 presents information on rehabilitation of general conditions such as neurological and neurosurgical conditions, spinal cord injuries, rheumatic disease and fibrositis, orthopedic conditions, and sports injuries. The information presented includes general concepts along with specific suggestions for conditions that have their own uncommon features, such as a painful hemiplegic shoulder, ataxia, Parkinson's disease, and so on. The third section, on health promotion, includes chapters covering principles and guidelines for using hydrotherapy, specifically expectant mothers, babies and their mothers, and the older adult. These chapters also provide recommendations for organizing treatment programs and suggest a psychosocial approach, emphasizing improving and maintaining the patient's health and physical and mental well being through exercising in water. Contraindications, precautions, untoward effects, advantages, and disadvantages of hydrotherapy and exercise under water are discussed in each chapter and are pertinent to the condition being presented. The text flows well and is consistent throughout. The exercise techniques, body positions, and safety precautions are described clearly so that the reader can implement the information and be aware of the effect on and the benefits appreciated by the patient. As this book is intended to be a manual, however, it would have been helpful to have included more illustrations of the techniques described. Only a few simple drawings accompany the chapters on rehabilitation of the patient following neurosurgery and on hydrotherapy in the childbearing year. There is some redundancy in principle and theory from chapter to chapter, perhaps because each chapter has a different author, but the reader will find this acceptable, as it does not detract from the value of the information. Because therapists can be general in their approach to therapeutic exercise in the water or more specific as necessary, from time to time references are made to other texts for minute details of the effect of water on an immersed body or the specific hydrodynamic principles. This is helpful because the purpose of this book is geared toward practical applications, and if the reader desires in-depth information, the source is provided. Much reference is made to Bad Ragaz techniques, for example. Although each technique may not be explained in detail in this text, the reader's interest may be piqued to the point of consulting other texts. The reference list following each chapter provides ample listings of recommendations for additional reading, as well as references relating to the content of the chapter. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who utilize hydrotherapy pools either for individual treatment or group therapy will find this book a valuable addition to their library. Joan M Knapp, PT St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center Phoenix, Ariz