Hydrotherapy is a complex of cosmetic and medical procedures aimed at rehabilitation, preventive, aesthetic and therapeutic purposes. These include the external use of river, lake, tap or rain water in the form of douches, wraps, rubdowns, hot and cold baths and showers. Currently, internal hydrotherapy, in which clean drinking water acts as a sludge removal agent, has gained wide popularity, but internal hydrotherapy has not received recognition by orthodox medicine.

Hydrotherapy is an ancient healing and rejuvenating procedure that has its roots far back in antiquity: in many beliefs and myths, water was endowed with divine life-giving powers.

The first hydrotherapist was the court physician of Gaius Julius Caesar, Antony Muse, who cured the ill Roman emperor in a very unusual way - cold poultices.

However, hydrotherapy truly became widespread in the 18th century thanks to the work of physiotherapists Sebastian Kneipp and Vincent Priesnitz, who established the first hydrotherapy clinic in Greffenberg. After them, scientists Wilhelm Winternitz, Alexander Nikitin, B.M. published their works on the healing properties of water. Grzhimailo, S.P. Botkin.

Hydrotherapy or hydrotherapy is an integral part of physiotherapy.

Types of hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy differs from other treatment methods in its simplicity, accessibility and simplicity.

Hydrotherapy is represented by such types of procedures as:

• Shower. The essence of hydrotherapy using a shower is to expose the body to jets of water at a certain temperature and under a certain pressure. The physiological effect of a shower depends on the volume of water supplied per unit of time, the “hardness” of the stream, as well as the degree of deviation of its temperature from the indifferent one (34-36 degrees Celsius). There are rain showers, dust showers, circular showers, Scottish showers, needle showers, Charcot showers (in the form of a dense stream of water directed at a person under pressure), rising showers, etc.;
• A simple bathtub and a hydromassage bathtub (jacuzzi). There is a general bath, in which the patient’s head and neck remain above the surface of the water, and a local bath, the essence of which is the effect (temperature, vibration) on a certain part of the body (legs, arms, pelvic area);
• Hydrokinesitherapy. Represents swimming and therapeutic exercises in water;
• Thermal hydrotherapy. This includes hydrotherapy with groundwater at a temperature of 37-42 degrees Celsius;
• Balneotherapy. Treatment with mineral water.
• Pouring. This is a hardening and restorative procedure, the mechanism of action of which is a short-term effect on the body of low temperature;
• Saunas and steam rooms. The therapeutic effect is achieved by exposing the body to high temperature steam.

Depending on the water temperature, all water procedures are divided into:

• Cold (at temperatures below 20 degrees);
• Cool (21-33 degrees Celsius);
• Indifferent (34-36 degrees Celsius);
• Warm (37-39 degrees Celsius);
• Hot (40 degrees and above).

Mechanism of action of hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is based on mechanical, temperature and chemical factors affecting the body with ordinary water.

During a hydrotherapy session, the nerve endings located on the skin are irritated, which leads to the appearance of a nerve impulse that travels along the centripetal pathways of the body to the brain and spinal cord. The nerve impulse returns along centrifugal pathways to the organ associated with a specific area of ​​the spinal cord. For example, cooling the chest causes constriction of the blood vessels in the lungs, and warming the lower back causes dilation of the blood vessels in the kidneys.

Thermal effects on the body increase metabolism, improve metabolism, stimulate blood circulation, and enhance the secretory activity of the pancreas and stomach. Warm or hot water has a sedative and analgesic effect, reduces muscle tone, stimulates the activity of the endocrine system and “triggers” immune processes.

Cold water hydrotherapy is accompanied by changes in blood vessels: in the first phase they narrow, in the second they expand, followed by an acceleration of blood flow. Under the influence of cooled blood, the body's responses are excited in the form of an increased release of hormones - adrenaline and thyroxine. The action of hormones causes the breakdown of nitrogen-free substances, causing cleansing and strengthening effects.

Contrast procedures, which are part of hydrotherapy, direct blood flow either deep into the body or back to the skin, train blood microcirculation processes, help normalize blood pressure, have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, and stimulate metabolic processes.

Hydrotherapy with water with the addition of various ingredients: plant extracts, turpentine, and medications has an additional therapeutic effect.

Indications for hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is used both by healthy people for hardening, relieving tension, fatigue, and sleep disorders, and by patients in a state of pre-illness for the purpose of preventive effects on the body.

Indications for hydrotherapy are diseases such as:

• Coronary heart disease;
• Hypertension;
• Neurocirculatory dystonia;
• Diseases of the veins, peripheral arteries;
• Diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• Digestive tract disorders;
• Chronic lung diseases;
• Skin diseases;
• Menstrual irregularities;
• Increased swelling of the limbs;
• Haemorrhoids;
• Cellulite;
• Migraines;
• Insomnia, various kinds of neuroses and stress.

Like any other type of treatment, hydrotherapy should be prescribed by a therapist and carried out strictly under his supervision.

Contraindications to hydrotherapy

Despite its simplicity, hydrotherapy can pose health risks. Hydrotherapy is not recommended for people suffering from:

• Tendency to impaired coronary and cerebral circulation;
• Circulatory failure above stage 1-B;
• Chronic thrombophlebitis;
• Hypertension in stage 3-B;
• Inflammatory diseases in the acute stage;
• Severe angina.

Patients who have suffered a stroke, myocardial infarction, as well as diabetics, pregnant women and patients with atherosclerosis should consult a specialist before prescribing water procedures.

Water procedures for healing are an important method to keep the body in a vigorous state. Baths, saunas, contrast showers and rubdowns - hydrotherapy is an ideal remedy for a healthy body.

Water procedures for healing are an important method to keep the body in a vigorous state. Baths, saunas, contrast showers and rubdowns - hydrotherapy is an ideal remedy for a healthy body. Hot water causes the blood vessels to constrict, then they gradually dilate, and sweat is released, with which harmful substances and toxins leave the body. Low temperature water causes muscle contraction, which reduces heat transfer and improves metabolism. Baths, in general, improve well-being, having a positive effect on your mood.

Cold water bath

First of all, a cold bath is useful for raising the tone of the body, it stimulates blood flow and activates the digestive system. It is recommended to take this bath from thirty seconds to two minutes. But you should understand that this procedure does not have an invigorating effect on everyone. Before you start, you should definitely consult your doctor.

Recuperation with low-temperature water is contraindicated for heart disease, high blood pressure and digestive disorders.

A soda bath is also beneficial for the body; Epsom salts relieve pain in strained muscles. You can stay in the water for no more than twenty minutes. A contrast shower after the procedure, as well as warmth and peace will increase its effectiveness.

Water treatments with hydrogen peroxide

Water treatment is an extremely important procedure for the health of the whole body. In addition, it has a relaxing effect. To enhance the effectiveness of the procedure, it is recommended to take oxygen baths. To do this, you can use hydrogen peroxide. You will need a 0.5-1.5 liter bottle of hydrogen peroxide, which must be added to water at a temperature of 30-35 degrees. You need to stay in such a bath for ten to fifteen minutes.

An oxygen bath can also be prepared with hydrogen peroxide (200 ml, 30%), baking soda (100 g) and copper sulfate (2.5 g). All components should be mixed well in the bath and taken after waiting ten minutes. Suitable water temperature is 36-38 degrees, residence time is 30 minutes.

Of course, everyone knows how pleasant aromatic baths are, but a procedure with hydrogen peroxide means saturating the body with oxygen. In addition to pleasure, a therapeutic bath helps eliminate hypertension, helps with stress, neurasthenia, and joint pain.

Thermal baths with healing mud, aromatic oils, as well as hydrogen peroxide, have the ability to saturate the skin with beneficial substances or oxygen.

Pouring

Water procedures include compresses, douches and rubdowns. They strengthen the body as a whole and help in the treatment of many painful conditions. Cold douches have a positive effect on the circulatory system and improve metabolic processes. They also help with low blood pressure, help strengthen the body, and strengthen the immune system. Pouring is recommended for existing skin diseases, including psoriasis. An approximate effect is characterized by a contrast shower.

Charcot shower

Like baths with hydrogen peroxide, there are huge benefits for
The body also has such a procedure as Charcot's douche. It has an excellent massage effect and prepares the skin and subcutaneous tissue for further treatment procedures aimed at weight loss.

Such a shower helps solve the problem of cellulite, as well as correct figure flaws, make the body more elastic and toned. Recovery with this procedure is carried out in sanatoriums, special medical institutions and sometimes in beauty salons.

In modern medicine there are many types of souls that have very different effects. You can choose the usual option, with hydromassage, thermal effect. Circular, ascending, jacuzzi - all these procedures are also recommended for healing the body.

Other healing water treatments

For diseases of the musculoskeletal system, hydromassage is recommended, which relaxes and tones the muscles through directed water jets. When combined with manual massage, it is possible to achieve an excellent effect in improving joint function and muscle condition.

Wraps and compresses are based on thermal effects and saturation of the skin with various beneficial substances. During such procedures, nutrition occurs much better. As you know, various cosmetics, medicinal ointments, and creams penetrate deeper into damp skin.

In summer, contrast procedures end with heating; in winter, the body should be cooled. In this way, it is possible to develop the body’s resistance to any climatic conditions. Contrast procedures also improve adaptation to temperature changes.

In principle, rubbing, showering, washing, foot baths significantly increase the body’s resistance to the effects of temperatures and other negative environmental factors. Contrast douches provide an excellent healing massage.

Visiting the pool also helps with hardening. Before you start swimming, you should do a short warm-up. The duration is also determined taking into account the capabilities of a particular person. But, of course, no indoor procedure can compare with swimming in an open pond, river or sea.

Any of these water procedures will not only give you the desired coolness on the hottest day, but will also noticeably tighten the contours of your body.

Turning to the healing powers of water was common and natural even in the most ancient centuries. In our age of advanced cosmetics and plastic surgery, the demand, including water ones, does not lose its leading position.

And this is understandable: water has truly magical properties. It not only relaxes and refreshes, but also tightens and rejuvenates. There is no life without water, especially in summer. WomanJournal.ru will tell you which water treatments to prefer within the city or at a resort!

Water procedure: baths (sea water, mineral water, turpentine)

The simplest SPA procedure, but no less effective, is a warm bath, familiar to city sissies. There are a huge variety of types of therapeutic baths - these include sea water baths, turpentine baths, soda baths, relaxing and tonic baths. Each of them has its own effect.

Depending on what goal you want to achieve, choose the appropriate one. For example, baths with sea salt and algae extract not only help fight excess weight and sagging skin, but also perfectly relax and calm the nervous system.

You can do this water procedure at home. To do this, dissolve 500 grams of sea salt in water and pour in the concentrated algae extract. The water temperature should not exceed 35–37 degrees, and the taking time should not exceed 15 minutes. After swimming, rinse with a cool shower and rest for half an hour.

Turpentine baths are not so much a refreshing as a therapeutic type of SPA procedures. Such baths are very effective for weight loss. Thanks to turpentine (a mixture of essential oils from coniferous trees), toxins are removed from the body, which means cellulite and sagging skin disappear. In addition, metabolism improves due to the expansion of capillaries and normalization of blood flow. However, be careful: turpentine baths have contraindications. Therefore, before plunging into warm and fragrant water, consult a specialist. It’s better to sign up for the procedure at a professional medical institution.

Water procedure: Charcot shower

This water procedure is named after the famous French neurologist Jean Martin Charcot. Its main meaning is that the active points of the body are affected by jets of water of varying power. The sensations are peculiar. It feels like thousands of little arrows are piercing your skin. It hurts and tickles at the same time. However, such a fee is nothing compared to the result that remains after several sessions. Namely: it increases, and at the same time your well-being and mood. As for aesthetics, here as a bonus you will get an elastic body and toned skin without a hint of the notorious “orange peel”. However, you will see the result no earlier than after 10 procedures.

Water procedure: contrast douches

A contrast shower is an urban version of the good old Russian tradition of diving from a hot steam room into a cold ice hole. Behind such a simple and accessible water procedure lies a magical therapeutic and prophylactic effect. Immediately after bathing, an angelic lightness appears in the body.

If you make it a rule to take a contrast shower, the first results will not be long in coming. Within a week you will notice that your appetite has decreased, body contours have become clearer, and your skin has become elastic. All this is easily explained: a contrast shower activates metabolism, strengthens the heart and blood vessels.

How to perform the procedure? It’s very simple: first rinse your body with warm water, then turn on the hot water for a minute (as much as you can tolerate), then suddenly change to cold. The contrast shower time is approximately 15 minutes.

Water procedure: hammam

In fact, the Turkish “hammam” is the famous Roman “therms”. The ancient Romans knew a lot about health procedures, including water ones.

The Roman-Turkish steam room is fundamentally different from the Russian one. Here, soft, moist steam is held in high esteem: the bathhouse has 100% humidity. In the hammam, time flies by, the body is completely relaxed and rested. In addition, the pores open, impurities and toxins come out, the skin is cleansed and acquires a healthy color and tone.

Ideally, a specialist will give you a relaxation massage right in the steam room. Even in the heat of the day, when leaving the hammam you feel freshness and lightness throughout your body.

Water procedure: sauna

Unlike the southern, humid, relatively “cool” hammam, the Finnish bath has a more serious character. The temperature in the steam room reaches 100 degrees. The hot air slightly burns the lungs, so breathe slowly and calmly in the sauna. People who often visit the sauna note that this procedure significantly improves their overall well-being and appearance. Of course: the sultry air opens the pores, removing all toxins through sweat, the metabolism improves and works like clockwork. After the steam room, you can dive into the cool pool and freshen up a little. Do you think that going to the bathhouse in the hot summer is closed? But no! In the sauna, the temperature is much higher than outside, which means that you will always feel cool, even if the thermometer shows “only” +35 C.

Water procedure: hydromassage

The use of hydromassage is most often included in complex programs for losing weight and getting rid of cellulite. Do not confuse professional “water massage” with household hydromassage baths, which provide aesthetic pleasure rather than a pronounced therapeutic effect.

After 30 minutes of this water procedure, the skin feels about the same as after a classic manual massage - it is pink and hot to the touch, but without bruising or swelling. The main advantage of hydromassage is that, unlike a massage therapist’s table, you bask in warm water; the effects of the jets are gentle, but very effective. At the same time, the effectiveness is not inferior to other types of corrective massage.

You will need about seven water procedures to smooth out unevenness in problem areas. To relax your body and muscles after a busy day, visit the hydromassage once a week.

You can see each of these water procedures in the list of any SPA salon. It doesn’t matter where it is located, within your city or at a foreign resort.

Hydrotherapy -- external use of water for preventive and therapeutic purposes. Hydrotherapy (water) procedures include baths, showers, general and partial douches, rubdowns, and wet wraps. Their actions are determined by the temperature, mechanical and chemical influence of water and depend on the method of implementation.

Water procedures should not be used in cases of hypothermia and fatigue. In this case, you should first warm up (rest), then, after hydrotherapy, also rest, lying or sitting in a chair.

The degree of thermal effect of water depends on its temperature. According to this indicator, they distinguish:

• cold procedures (below 20 o C);
• cool (20-33 o C);
• indifferent (indifferent) (34-36 o C);
• hot (over 40 o WITH).

Water procedures

Pouring

Pouring can be local or general. For general douches, 2-3 buckets of water are poured out slowly - over 1-2 minutes. so that the water flows evenly over the body, then vigorously rub the patient with a warm sheet and wipe dry.

The procedure is carried out daily for 4-6 weeks, gradually lowering the water temperature from 34-33 o C to 22-20 o C. General dousing increases tone, has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system, and enhances metabolism.

During partial douches, usually with cold water (temperature 16-20 o C), only part of the body is doused: the back of the head, in order to improve breathing and blood circulation; arms and legs - with increased sweating, varicose veins, etc.

Rubdowns

The patient is quickly and vigorously rubbed over a damp sheet for 2-3 minutes until a feeling of warmth is felt, then wiped with a dry sheet. Sometimes, after wiping, the patient is doused with 1-2 buckets of water, the temperature of which is 1-2 o C lower than the temperature of the water taken for wiping, then wiped dry (so-called wiping with dousing). The patient can carry out the procedure independently, wiping the entire body with a sponge soaked in water or a special mitten, and then rubbing it dry with a towel.

Weakened patients undergo partial wiping. For a patient lying in bed under a blanket, first one leg is opened, then the other, arm, back, etc., on which a towel moistened with water and wrung out is placed and thoroughly rubbed over it, and then wiped dry and covered with a blanket again.

Table salt, alcohol, and cologne are sometimes added to the water. This rubdown has a refreshing and tonic effect, improves blood circulation and increases metabolic rate.

Wraps

When performing wet wraps or wraps, a large blanket is laid out on the couch and a sheet moistened with water (temperature 30-25 o C, rarely lower) and well wrung out on top. The naked patient is wrapped first in a sheet and then in a blanket. Depending on the duration, the procedure can have an antipyretic (10-15 min), sedative (30-40 min) and diaphoretic (50-60 min or more) effect.

Therapeutic shower

One of the most popular types of hydrotherapy are showers: regular rain and needle, Charcot's shower. Scottish, rain and needle showers have a slight irritating effect; the water in them is supplied under low pressure; they are prescribed primarily as refreshing and tonic procedures.

During a Charcot shower, a patient standing at a distance of 3-3.5 m from the control panel is first doused with a fan-shaped stream of water from all sides (fan shower), then a compact stream is applied to parts of the body with muscle layers or a bone base (limbs, back, sides surface of the chest). It is necessary to avoid getting the jet into the face, head, mammary glands and genitals. The first procedure is carried out at a water temperature of 35-32 o C, daily or every other time it is lowered by 1 o C and by the end of treatment it is brought to 20-15 o C. Charcot's shower is prescribed mainly for functional diseases of the nervous system, metabolic diseases, especially obesity.

Scottish (contrast) shower

The effect of a Scottish shower is that a stream of hot (37-45 o C) water is alternately directed at the patient for 30-40 seconds, and then cold (20-10 o C) for 15-20 seconds. This is repeated 4-6 times.

As a local procedure, it is prescribed for obesity, constipation associated with decreased intestinal tone (on the abdomen); with myositis of the lumbar muscles, lumbosacral radiculitis (on the lower back).

Circular shower (needle, Swiss)

A circular shower is carried out in a special box, which is equipped with tubes for supplying water in a vertical and horizontal position on all sides of the box. Water is supplied under strong pressure, approximately 1.5 atm, and many thin streams from all sides have a hydromassage effect on the human skin and body.

An ascending perineal shower is used for hemorrhoids, prostatitis, proctitis, etc. The patient sits on a tripod over a ring-shaped seat, under which a rain shower tip is installed, facing upward. Jets of water (temperature 36-25 o C) fall on the perineum.

Circular and upward Perineal showers last for 2-5 minutes, they are carried out daily, a total of 15-20 procedures.

Underwater shower massage

Underwater shower massage is a procedure in which the patient is massaged underwater with a stream of water supplied from a pressurized hose. Temperature and mechanical irritations of the skin cause improved blood and lymph circulation, and thereby tissue nutrition, stimulate metabolism, and promote faster resolution of inflammation.

Indications for prescribing a shower massage are: obesity, gout, consequences of trauma to the musculoskeletal system, diseases of the joints (except tuberculosis), muscles and

tendons. consequences of damage and diseases of the peripheral nervous system, residual effects after poliomyelitis with symptoms of muscle paresis, sluggishly healing trophic ulcers (without thrombophlebitis), etc.

During a general underwater shower-massage, the entire body is exposed. During local massage, a stream of water from a hose with a tip is directed to a certain area of ​​the body (joint area, lumbar region, etc.), the water temperature is 36-38 o C.

With a general underwater shower-massage, the water temperature can be gradually increased to 40 o C, with a local one - up to 42 o C. The course of treatment is 15-20 procedures. General underwater massage cannot be combined with other water and thermal procedures, ultraviolet irradiation, etc.

Showers as hydrotherapy procedures are contraindicated in acute inflammatory processes and exacerbation of chronic diseases hypertension stages II and III, severe angina, myocardial infarction, cardiac aneurysm, chronic cardiovascular failure, condition after a recent stroke (6-8 months), malignant neoplasms, benign tumors with their tendency to grow, bleeding, tuberculosis in certain phases of the disease, infectious diseases, weeping eczema, pustular skin diseases, etc.

Therapeutic baths

Hydrotherapy procedures also include baths, in which the effect on the body of hot and cool water, steam, etc. is controlled by medical staff.

The most popular are the Russian bath with steam room and the dry-air Finnish sauna. The effect on the body is based on temperature contrast (warming in a thermal chamber - steam room and subsequent cooling in a pool, under a shower or in a cool room), which promotes vascular training.

The importance of this procedure in eliminating disorders associated not only with colds, but also with other diseases, in increasing adaptive forces to changes in air temperature (heat, cold, hypothermia) and the immunological reaction to various types of infections, in enhancing metabolism and excretory function is well known from the body of waste metabolic products it does not need, etc. Baths can be used for medicinal purposes only as prescribed by a doctor and according to the method proposed by him, with periodic medical monitoring of the general condition.

Indications for prescribing baths as a hydrotherapy procedure include nonspecific diseases of the upper respiratory tract, musculoskeletal system (beyond the acute stage), initial manifestations of hypertension, atherosclerosis, consequences of injuries to the lower extremities, exudative diathesis, etc.

Contraindications to the bath are epilepsy, malignant and benign (growing) tumors, infectious diseases, severe hypertension and atherosclerosis, bleeding, blood diseases.

Baths

They are among the most common hydrotherapy procedures, in which the human body is immersed up to the level of the neck or partially in water for a certain time.

Based on the volume of impact, they are distinguished:

• General (full) baths, when the whole body is immersed in water up to neck level.
• Belt or half baths, in which only the lower half of the body is immersed.
• Local (partial) baths for limbs.

Pine baths prepared by adding powdered (50-70 g) or liquid pine extract (100 ml). The industry also produces pine tablets, which are added to the bath (1-2 tablets each). The aroma of pine needles has a calming effect, which makes these baths indicated for neuroses. Water temperature is 35-37 o C, procedure duration is 10-15 minutes. There are 10-15 procedures per course.

Sage baths prepared by dissolving condensed clary sage condensate in water in an amount of 250-300 ml. These baths have an analgesic and calming effect. Their duration is 8-15 minutes, water temperature is 35-37 o C, 2-3 times a week. There are 12-15 procedures per course. Used for diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.

Mustard baths can be local or general. For a bath, use 150-250 g of dry mustard, previously diluted in a small amount of warm water. Water temperature is 37-39 o C. The duration of the general bath is 5-8 minutes, the local bath is 10 minutes. After the bath, the patient is washed with warm water and wrapped for 30-60 minutes. Mustard baths cause irritation and redness of the skin; they are prescribed for acute respiratory diseases (acute respiratory infections, acute bronchitis, pneumonia), especially in children.

Pearl baths -- the acting medium is water with many air bubbles formed by thin metal tubes with holes into which air enters under pressure. This “seething” of water has a mechanical effect on the patient’s skin. Baths are indicated for functional disorders of the nervous system, general fatigue, and stage 1 hypertension. The duration of the procedure is 10-15 minutes, daily or every other day. There are 12-15 procedures per course.

Carbon dioxide baths -- the influencing environment is natural or artificially prepared carbon dioxide mineral waters. The body is covered with many small gas bubbles, which have a chemical effect on the nerve receptors of the skin, which causes a reflex response in its blood vessels. They expand and blood circulation improves significantly.

Radon baths -- to prepare them, a concentrated solution of radon is used, which is obtained from a solution of radium salts. Radon baths enhance metabolic processes, have a general calming and analgesic effect, normalize blood pressure, and improve the contractile function of the heart. Their use is indicated for chronic polyarthritis, spinal osteochondrosis, neuroses, diseases of the peripheral nervous system, and gynecological diseases.

Oxygen baths prepared using an apparatus for saturating water with oxygen. The oxygen concentration in the bath does not exceed 50 mg/l. Water temperature 35-36 o C, procedure duration 10-20 minutes daily or every other day. There are 12-15 procedures per course. In addition to the usual sedative effect of fresh, temperature-indifferent water, during this procedure oxygen bubbles have a slight mechanical effect, like air bubbles in a pearl bath.

Hardening and winter swimming

Epiphany swimming in an ice hole has recently become very popular, but it must be borne in mind that such procedures are not suitable for everyone. Hardening the body with cold water should be done in doses and very gradually. Even walruses with more than 6 years of experience should not stay in very cold water for more than 2.5 minutes.

Water procedures include showering, bathing (baths), washing, dousing, wiping and wet wrapping.

The hardening effect of these procedures is due to water irritation of the nerve endings of the skin. In response to this, the body’s response occurs reflexively.

Temperature effects are the main factor in water procedures. For hardening, water of various temperatures is used - from warm (+37-39 °C) to cold (less than +20 °C).

The effect of cold water on the body goes through three phases. In the first phase, when the skin is exposed to cold or cool water, a reflex narrowing of small surface vessels occurs, due to which the loss of heat by the body is reduced. At the same time, due to the vascular resistance that appears, heart contractions slightly increase and blood pressure slightly increases. The skin becomes pale and cold to the touch. As a result, the central nervous system is excited.

In the second phase, the spasmodic skin vessels expand, the blood flow through them accelerates; the body begins to lose heat. As a result of this, metabolism increases, the cardiovascular and respiratory systems begin to work in enhanced mode. The skin turns pink and becomes warm to the touch.

If cold water affects the body for a long time, then the third phase begins, which is expressed in the fact that while the blood vessels remain dilated, the blood flow slows down. Blood stagnates in the veins, causing the skin to become bluish and cold. The person feels chills and weakness.

When carrying out hardening, it is necessary to ensure that the third phase of the effects of cold on the body does not occur. Its occurrence indicates that the procedure took too long, was carried out incorrectly, or does not correspond to the state of the body.

In the process of changing the temperature of the water and the time of exposure to the procedure, various reactions occur in the human body. This is the basis for hardening, in which most often the water temperature is gradually reduced from procedure to procedure, bringing it to the maximum tolerated. In addition, you can alternate water of different temperatures - from cold to hot, and vice versa (contrast shower). At the same time, the body gets used to such exposure to temperatures and each time responds with a less pronounced reaction.

Before hardening, you should consult your doctor and try to cure chronic inflammatory diseases. Water procedures should never be carried out during an acute infectious or inflammatory process or during exacerbation of chronic diseases. You must wait 2-3 weeks after recovery.

If a person does not tolerate the procedures well, experiences muscle tremors, headaches, joint pain or other undesirable symptoms, the procedures will have to be interrupted and consult a doctor.

The criteria for the effectiveness of hardening are the appearance of vigor, a surge of energy, good health, and increased performance. With systematic hardening, the frequency of colds and acute infectious diseases is significantly reduced, performance increases, and mood improves.

Rubdown

Daily rubdowns increase immunity and help develop the body's resistance to colds.

Rubdowns can be general or partial. They can act as an independent procedure, or can be combined with other methods of water procedures, such as showers or douches.

To carry out wiping, you will need a basin with water, a small terry towel (or a rubber sponge), which must be soaked in clean water at a temperature of +36-37 ° C, and then wrung out well. Then you need to quickly rub the whole body or just the limbs (arms and legs) for 5-10 minutes. In this case, one hand is first rubbed, after which it must be wiped dry with a clean terry towel; then in the same way - the second arm, neck, stomach, chest, legs. Every week the water temperature is reduced by 1 °C and brought to the maximum tolerated.

For hardening, it is recommended to rub down in the morning at the same time, after exercise. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the air temperature in the room where the procedure is carried out is within +18-20 °C. After the procedure, it is recommended to wear warm clothes.

This method of hardening is quite simple to perform, so it can be recommended for elderly people and young children

Pouring

Initially, the water for dousing should have a temperature of +37-38 °C. At the end of each week, the water temperature is reduced by 1 °C. The duration of the procedures is initially 1 minute and gradually increases to 2-3 minutes.

After dousing, it is recommended to rub the entire body with a terry towel. It is very useful to carry out contrast procedures, i.e. alternating dousing with hot and cool water. This effectively stimulates the activity of skin receptors, helps strengthen blood vessels, and has a general strengthening effect on the body.

It is very important to follow the sequence - the decrease in temperature should be gradual. It is unacceptable to start hardening by dousing it with very cold water right away. It is necessary to gradually adjust the immune system to the procedures; an unprepared body may react to dousing with ice water by developing a cold, pneumonia, kidney damage or other serious illness, which not only will not bring benefit, but will also cause harm.

Contrast shower

This is an alternation of dousing with hot and cool water. Its effect on the body consists not only of temperature, but also of mechanical irritation of skin receptors. Temperature changes cause blood vessels to alternately narrow and expand, which helps strengthen the walls of blood vessels, improves blood circulation, color and elasticity of the skin.

During one procedure, it is recommended to change the water temperature 4-5 times, but it is better to start with warm water. The difference between the temperature of hot and cold water should initially be minimal, over time it increases to the maximum tolerated.

Bathing

You can swim both in the pool and in open water (pond, lake, river, sea). At the same time, the body is affected not only by the temperature, but also by the mechanical factor of water, and when swimming in an open body of water, also by the sun and air. In addition, sea water has a beneficial effect on the body due to the rich range of dissolved mineral salts it contains.

In addition to the hardening effect, bathing increases the intensity of metabolism and trains the cardiovascular and nervous systems. You should pay attention to the fact that you should not swim in open water if you have an elevated body temperature, with acute and infectious diseases, with certain diseases of the heart and blood vessels, as well as if the body is prone to bleeding.

In an open reservoir, hardening by swimming is recommended to begin at a water temperature of +20-22 °C, air temperature - +23-24 °C.

In this case, you must follow simple rules:

before you start swimming, you should bask a little in the sun, you can do several physical exercises for 5-10 minutes;

The most favorable time for swimming in open water is before 12 noon and after 4 pm. It is important to remember that you should not swim immediately after eating. It is better to do this 1-2 hours after eating;

It is better to enter water, especially cool water, gradually, so that the body has time to get used to the temperature of the water;

After swimming you should dry yourself with a clean towel. Air drying is not recommended;

Children, especially small ones, must bathe in the presence of adults, and it is unacceptable to leave the child alone even for a minute.

When swimming in open water, safety precautions should be followed to prevent drowning. In particular, you should not swim, much less dive in an unfamiliar place or in places not intended for swimming.

Winter swimming

This is swimming in an open reservoir in winter. In terms of the degree of impact on the body, it is the most powerful hardening procedure.

You can start winter swimming only after preliminary intensive hardening with cold for a long time. Before the procedure, consultation with a doctor is necessary, since when swimming in water with a temperature below +5 ° C, significant energy expenditure occurs in the human body, body temperature decreases, heart rate and respiratory movements increase, and blood pressure increases. It is not recommended to start winter swimming after the age of 50.

It is necessary to begin the procedure by staying in ice water for 20-30 seconds, then gradually increase the duration of bathing to 1 minute. Spending more than the specified time in water is not recommended. At the same time, you should be in the cold air undressed as little as possible. In winter, you can swim no more than 2-3 times a week.

Winter swimming cannot be carried out in case of certain diseases of the cardiovascular system and respiratory organs (hypertension, atherosclerosis, bronchial asthma, chronic pneumonia, etc.), as well as for children under 18 years of age.