Hydrotherapy

Our clinics at The Royal Hospital Chelsea and in St John’s Wood include two of just a few hydrotherapy pools in Central London. We offer self-pay and insurance funded rehabilitation packages, individual hydrotherapy sessions and a variety of plans to promote and deliver the best outcomes for patients using water and land-based physiotherapy interventions.

Hydrotherapy During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Due to the Coronavirus outbreak in the UK, our Physiotherapy Clinic at The Royal Hospital Chelsea has temporarily moved to Pimlico, just a few minutes away. During this time, our Hydrotherapy services are available at our St John’s Wood clinic.

Hydrotherapy Initial Appointments

Due to limited hydrotherapy availability at our St. John’s Wood site, we now complete the first 30 minutes of the initial assessment online via video appointment. This is to take you history, complete a brief functional assessment and assess your suitability for hydrotherapy. This will be followed up with a 30-minute pool session.

Keeping You Safe

To comply with government guidelines your hydrotherapist will be wearing a medical grade face mask whilst in the pool with you and will limit the time spent within 2 metres of you where possible. You are not expected to wear a face covering whilst in the hydrotherapy pool, but we do ask you wear one in the communal areas prior to entering and on exiting the pool.
If the hydrotherapist or assistant needs to come into close contact with you outside of the pool (i.e. to assist you on the steps to access the pool) they will wear gloves and gowns.
There will be at least 15 minutes between each appointment to allow for extra cleaning of the facilities between patients.
Please attend your appointment on time and alone where possible.

What is Hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy, also known as aquatic physiotherapy or aquatic therapy, is proven to be a safe and effective treatment in accelerating the rate of recovery for wide ranging conditions:

Hydrotherapy pools offer an incredibly therapeutic solution to those suffering with a physical impairment.
The support and resistance of the water can ultimately enhance exercises and create a safe environment for rehabilitation.
The pools are heated to a very comfortable 34-36°C and also contain an automated hoist to aid entry and exit.

Our hydrotherapy pool in St John’s Wood is in The Wellington Hospital North Building and is an above the ground facility with a glass side to allow walking and balance assessment from both inside and outside the pool.

What are the Benefits?

Gravity is reduced by one seventh when a patient is immersed into the water, and it can facilitate exercise techniques that offer both resistance and support. The warm temperature also prompts muscle relaxation, facilitates stretching and generally helps to reduce pain.

Watch the video of us featured on ITV Tonight treating a patient at our Chelsea Clinic, who reports the huge benefits hydrotherapy has made to his recovery.

What Conditions can Benefit from Hydrotherapy?

Conditions that benefit from hydrotherapy include:

Hip, knee and shoulder pain
Post surgery:
- Hip, knee shoulder replacements
- ACL reconstruction
- Knee and shoulder arthroscopy
- Surgically managed fractures
Sports injuries
Fibromyalgia
Sciatica
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome-Hypermobility
Lower back, thoracic and neck pain
Non weight bearing following surgery
Arthritis (including Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis)

Here is an example of some higher intensity pool-based running and jumping drills, that can be used prior to attempting on land. These drills prepare the lower body for impact running, jumping and hopping, with joint sparing reduced loads in the aquatic environment.

It provides a safer environment to help develop speed and power, with increased horizontal resistance provided by the water, but less vertical ground impact forces. Good trunk and pelvic form can be maintained with the overhead drills, that improve activation of trunk and pelvic musculature.

Why Choose Us for Hydrotherapy?

Unrivalled Expertise

Our hydrotherapists have at least five years experience in hydrotherapy. They are also physiotherapists and so during your thorough initial assessment are able to advise which form of treatment would be best for you.

Joint Replacement Specialists

We are one of the leading London providers of a combined land and pool-based programme for both non-operatively managed and pre/post joint replacement patients.

Access to Additional Specialists

We have excellent relationships with orthopaedic surgeons, sports medicine specialists and other leading medics, to whom we can refer you should the need arise.

Great Value!

Our hydrotherapy services start from as little as £21 per session. Following a course of hydrotherapy, you can also return for self-hydro, if necessary, to further aid rehab in a more cost-effective way.

Our Patients Give Us 5 Stars!

With regular physiotherapy sessions, and weekly hydrotherapy (the pool is lovely), I've made huge progress and after four and a half years of illness, I finally feel I'm getting my life back. Jane Attard is very supportive and so incredibly knowledgeable about this condition, and after only my first session, I was already feeling a hell of a lot better as she immediately identified what was wrong with my shoulder.

What an AMAZING physio Jane Attard is. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. She helped my 14 year old son out of a wheelchair and to learn to walk again following both his legs being completely reconstructed under the care of Great Ormond Street. I can't thank you all enough and, without question, highly recommend Jane and the team at Chelsea to help with any physio or hydrotherapy support.

My wife had a pretty horrendous and complicated skiing injury which has resulted in her requiring two surgeries and intense physio. She picked central health Chelsea as there is a hydrotherapy pool. Jane is an amazingly dedicated, knowledgeable and friendly physio. We (and the surgeons!) never expected the recovery she has made.

I was referred here after having a second hip arthroscopy to go through a course of hydrotherapy physio with James. Having tried to do it on my own the previous time and now having had my exercise led this time, there is no comparison. I have improved both my mobility and control and it has aided my recovery and return to playing golf massively.

An excellent service from my Physiotherapist, Ali Yeo. The staff were also very good and provided excellent assistance. The facilities at Central Health, Chelsea are also very good. The Hydro Pool was a joy and encouraged my post surgery recovery.

Contact Us Now

020 7404 6343

Email or Book Online

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does hydrotherapy cost?

Our hydrotherapy services start from as little as £21 per session.
Self hydrotherapy services are offered only after having an initial one hour appointment. (NB not available at St John’s Wood.)

Hydrotherapy Consultations

Initial one hour appointment £120
(includes land assessment & pool session)

1/2 hour follow up appointments £85

Self Hydrotherapy (available at Chelsea only)

Self Hydro one session £25

Self Hydro 6 session block £125
(equivalent to ~£21 per session)

What happens if I can’t swim?

Do not worry if you cannot swim. A physiotherapist will be with you in the water at all times. The pool is not deep and you can hold onto the hand rails which surround the pool. You will not need to put your head under water.

What should I bring?

A swimming costume and any acute medications. We provide towels and dressing gowns.

How do I get in the pool?

Access to the pool is via steps with hand-rails if you are able. Electronic hoist access is available to those patients who are less mobile.

What are the side-effects?

The warmth of the water and the exercise may make you feel tired afterwards.

What happens if I have a surgical wound?

Waterproof dressings will be applied to prevent contact with recent surgery sites. We have stringent disinfectant measures which ensure clean water. The pool water is tested weekly for micro-organisms by the Health Protection Agency in accordance with their guidelines.

When is hydrotherapy not appropriate?

You will be assessed by a physiotherapist before your first hydrotherapy appointment. Certain conditions may prohibit you from hydrotherapy.