Hydrotherapy comprises a range of procedures in which water is used as a therapeutic device.
These water treatments are often seen in physical therapy and physical or sports medicine, where they are used as a cleansing agent, and a medium for delivery of heat and cold to the body.
This latter function is especially important since contrasting temperature can be used to reduce inflammation, an aggravating factor in many chronic conditions. The same effects can be achieved with hydrotherapy treatments performed at home.