Hydrotherapy for Children in Derbyshire & Staffordshire

Hydrotherapy — physiotherapy in a warm, therapeutic pool — can be a game-changer for children with complex neurological or musculoskeletal conditions. The unique properties of water allow movements and activities that may be impossible or very difficult on land, making it one of the most enjoyable and effective forms of therapy for many children.

What is hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy (also called aquatic therapy or aquatic physiotherapy) is a form of physiotherapy carried out in a heated pool, usually at a temperature of 33–36°C. It is delivered by a qualified physiotherapist who holds additional training in aquatic therapy.

Hydrotherapy is different from general swimming lessons or water confidence sessions. Each session is tailored by a physiotherapist to target specific therapeutic goals — improving movement, strength, coordination, or sensory processing.

Why is water therapeutic for children?

Water has four key properties that make it uniquely helpful for children with complex needs:

• Buoyancy: The upward force of water reduces the effect of gravity, meaning children can move limbs and achieve positions that are impossible on land. A child who cannot walk on land may be able to walk in water.
• Warmth: The heated water reduces muscle spasticity (stiffness) in children with cerebral palsy, making movement easier and less painful.
• Resistance: Water provides gentle resistance in all directions, building strength without the impact risks of land-based exercise.
• Sensory input: The sensory experience of water can be calming and regulating for children with sensory processing differences, and the hydrostatic pressure provides deep proprioceptive feedback.

Which children can benefit from hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy is particularly beneficial for children with:

• Cerebral palsy: Reduced spasticity and improved movement in warm water
• Post-SDR rehabilitation: Water provides an ideal environment for the intensive post-operative rehabilitation required after Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy
• Hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Gentle strengthening with joint protection
• Developmental delay: Movement exploration in a supportive environment
• Neurological conditions: Including spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, and acquired brain injuries
• Musculoskeletal conditions: Post-fracture, post-surgical, and chronic pain conditions
• Toe walking: Hydrotherapy can assist in lengthening calf muscles
• Sensory processing differences: The regulating properties of warm water suit many children with autism or sensory processing disorder

What happens in a hydrotherapy session?

A typical paediatric hydrotherapy session lasts 30–45 minutes and is fully guided by a qualified physiotherapist. Sessions are one-to-one and tailored specifically to your child's goals.

Your physiotherapist will:

1. Discuss goals and any changes since the last session before entering the pool
2. Support your child safely in the water, using floats, aids, and handling as appropriate
3. Guide your child through specific therapeutic activities and exercises
4. Progress the programme as your child develops
5. Brief you on any home exercises or activities after the session

Parents/carers are usually present poolside or in the water, depending on the child's needs and comfort.

Is hydrotherapy safe for my child?

Hydrotherapy with a qualified physiotherapist is very safe. Your physiotherapist will carry out a thorough assessment before any sessions to identify any contraindications. Conditions that may affect suitability include:

• Open wounds or unhealed surgical sites
• Active infections (ear, skin, respiratory)
• Uncontrolled epilepsy (requires careful individual risk assessment)
• Certain cardiovascular conditions

Your physiotherapist will discuss your child's medical history in full during the initial assessment to ensure hydrotherapy is appropriate and safe.

Hydrotherapy for SDR rehabilitation

Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) is a neurosurgical procedure used to permanently reduce spasticity in children with spastic cerebral palsy. The post-operative rehabilitation is intensive — children need daily physiotherapy in the weeks following surgery, progressing over months and years.

Hydrotherapy is a valuable component of SDR rehabilitation:

• The warmth helps manage post-operative muscle soreness
• Buoyancy allows early weight-bearing practice with reduced pain
• Walking and movement patterns can be practised in water before full land-based walking is possible
• Children often find it more motivating and enjoyable than land-based physiotherapy

Read our guide to cerebral palsy physiotherapy →

How does paediatric hydrotherapy differ from adult hydrotherapy?

Children's hydrotherapy requires specialist paediatric training beyond standard hydrotherapy qualifications. The Buzzy Bees team holds membership of the Aquatic Therapy Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (ATACP), which requires:

• Specific aquatic physiotherapy training and competencies
• Ongoing CPD in aquatic therapy
• Child safeguarding training
• Paediatric first aid certification

Areas covered in Derbyshire and Staffordshire

The Buzzy Bees team provides hydrotherapy for children across:

• Derbyshire: Derby, Chesterfield, Matlock, Ashbourne, Belper, Buxton, and surrounding areas
• Staffordshire: Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Burton upon Trent, Tamworth, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and surrounding areas

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Pricing for hydrotherapy

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