Fractures

Hydrotherapy for Recovery After a Broken Bone

Breaking a bone is a life-altering event, often accompanied by pain, swelling, and fear about movement. Whether your injury required surgery or not, hydrotherapy offers a safe and effective way to rebuild strength, improve mobility, and accelerate your recovery.

Our specialist hydrotherapy centre has extensive experience in working with patients who have suffered fractures of all kinds, helping them regain confidence and function in a supportive environment.

Why Hydrotherapy is Essential After a Fracture

Hydrotherapy creates a unique environment where you can start moving safely, even if you’re apprehensive about weight-bearing or joint motion. Here’s why it’s so effective:

Early Movement Improves Outcomes

Studies show that early, controlled movement after a fracture leads to better long-term outcomes. Hydrotherapy allows you to begin exercising as soon as your consultant agrees it’s safe, helping to:

Restore range of motion.
Prevent joint stiffness.
Minimise muscle wasting.

Swelling Reduction Through Hydrostatic Pressure

Swelling is a natural response to trauma and surgery, but if it lingers, it can restrict joint movement and slow healing. The pressure of water immersion helps reduce swelling, promoting better circulation and faster recovery.

Safe Environment for Movement

Many patients are afraid to bear weight on a fractured limb or move an injured arm for fear of causing further damage. The buoyancy of water supports your body, making it easier and safer to move. This supportive environment helps you regain confidence and trust in your body’s ability to heal.

Pain Relief and Circulation Enhancement

Warm water soothes pain and increases circulation, which aids healing and reduces discomfort during exercise. For patients dealing with the aftermath of a fall or traumatic injury, this soothing environment can make the rehabilitation process less intimidating.

Common Fractures We Treat

Ankle Fractures

Hydrotherapy helps restore ankle range of motion and strength while managing swelling and pain.

Tibial Plateau Fractures

Controlled movement in water allows for safe weight-bearing and gradual strengthening of the knee joint.

Femoral Fractures

For thigh bone fractures, hydrotherapy provides a safe environment to regain leg strength and improve walking patterns.

Calcaneal (Heel) Fractures

Water-based exercises help rebuild foot strength and mobility without overloading the injured area.

Stress Fractures

Hydrotherapy enables active recovery while adhering to reduced weight-bearing instructions, preventing deconditioning during the healing phase.

Patella Fractures

Gentle exercises in water improve knee extension and flexion while reducing stiffness.

Personalised Care for Complex Cases

In addition to single fractures, we work with patients who have sustained multiple fractures from incidents such as road traffic accidents. These cases require highly individualised care plans, which our experienced team develops in collaboration with your hospital and consultant.

How Hydrotherapy Transforms Recovery

Breaking a bone can feel like a major setback, but hydrotherapy makes recovery proactive and empowering. Here are the key benefits:

Restoring Range of Motion: Early, gentle movement helps prevent stiffness and improves joint flexibility.
Reducing Swelling: Hydrotherapy’s hydrostatic pressure minimises swelling, allowing for smoother and faster recovery.
Building Strength Safely: Water’s resistance helps rebuild muscle strength without placing undue stress on healing bones.
Boosting Confidence: The supportive nature of water reduces fear of movement, helping you regain trust in your body.
Easing Pain and Promoting Relaxation: Warm water soothes pain and creates a calming environment, making exercise more enjoyable.

"225 days ago, I was knocked off my bike, suffering a severe femur fracture. Surgery repaired the bone, but I feared my cycling career was over. My physio encouraged hydrotherapy, and AquaPhysio played a key role in my near 100% recovery.

The pool preserved my mobility when pain made land exercises impossible and later helped me rebuild fitness safely. It also kept my morale high, making me feel like an athlete again.

Now, my cycling FTP is back, my 5K times are improving, and I even spent nine days on the slopes, less than seven months after my injury. I highly recommend Aqua-Physio to any athlete recovering from injury, it works!"