Hydrotherm/water bed massage
Hydrotherm is a water bed based massage. The hydrotherm kit consists of two big plastic cushions which are filled with warm water, there is a small thermometer gauge on each cushion to indicate the correct temperature of the water inside that is required for the body massage to be safe and comfortable. Also included are various sizes of booster blocks (square pieces of covered foam, which are placed under the client’s head/neck and an inflatable bolster cushion to go under the knees to provide stability and support.
The cushions are filled and placed on a couch (in spas they are generally left in situation with thermostatic pads underneath them to maintain the correct operating temperature). I as a mobile therapist, did not have the thermostat so I used to fill my cushions up with warm water from the kettle and tap, when I got to the place where I was treating, and they can retain the heat long enough to complete a full body massage.
Once the water filled cushions have been placed on the couch the therapist will assist the client to get on top of them. There is a specific way of doing it and it can seem a bit daunting and unstable when you first get onto he cushions as obviously they move with the water and you feel as if you are going to fall off the couch. I’ve never had a client fall off the water beds and I used to do a lot of waterbed massages in a large well known spa that specialised in this type of massage. Once the client is safely situated and correctly positioned the booster blocks are placed under the head/neck and the bolster under the knees, this support with the help of the water makes you feel as if you are floating. The client is then covered with large warm towels as they would be for any other type of massage.
The water cushions are good for the therapist to use as the pliable plastic allows the therapist to slide her hands under the body, to massage and manipulate the various muscles from underneath. There is no need to turn over for a full water bed massage as all of the muscles are pulled and manipulated in this way. The warmth of the water has also has a very relaxing effect on them,it’s a bit like getting into a warm bath to ease muscle fatigue.
The massage itself is quite different from other massage techniques we use, such as in aromatherapy and Swedish body massage. There is some gentle stretching of the limbs involved which is really good for relieving tension and stiffness in these areas.
A water bed massage is soothing and is good for people who can’t lie on their fronts for a back massage such as pregnant women, frail or elderly people or people who suffer from breathing conditions. As the back muscles are worked on from underneath.
Contraindications would be as for aromatherapy massage(see earlier post)
Contraindications would be as for aromatherapy massage(see earlier post)
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