Children's Physio Dorset

Helping babies, children and young people build strength, confidence and independence through specialist physiotherapy in the water.

 

Hydrotherapy combines the therapeutic benefits of warm water with specialist paediatric physiotherapy to help children develop movement, strength, balance and confidence in a fun, supportive environment.

The natural properties of water reduce the effects of gravity, allowing children to practise movements that may be difficult on land while also providing gentle resistance to strengthen muscles, improve postural control and encourage functional movement.

Every hydrotherapy programme is individually tailored to your child's needs, abilities and goals, making sessions enjoyable, motivating and effective.

Why Choose Hydrotherapy?

• Improves strength and endurance
• Develops balance and postural control
• Encourages independent movement
• Improves walking and functional mobility
• Increases joint range of movement
• Reduces the effects of gravity, making movement easier
• Builds confidence in movement
• Improves coordination
• Provides a fun, motivating therapy environment

Our Specialist Approach

Hydrotherapy at Children's Physio Dorset is much more than simply exercising in a swimming pool.

Every session is individually planned around your child's goals and may incorporate a range of specialist neurological physiotherapy techniques, including:

Hydrotherapy at Children's Physio Dorset is much more than simply exercising in a swimming pool.

Every session is individually planned around your child's goals and may incorporate a range of specialist neurological physiotherapy techniques, including:

• Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI)
• Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT)
• Functional strengthening
• Balance and postural control activities
• Walking and gait practice
• Play-based therapy to maximise engagement and motivation

One of the unique aspects of our hydrotherapy service is the integration of Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) within the aquatic environment where appropriate. The support provided by the water often allows children to practise more challenging movement patterns with greater confidence, while the natural resistance of the water helps develop strength, postural control and functional movement.

Hydrotherapy as Part of Your Child's Physiotherapy Journey

Hydrotherapy can be provided as a stand-alone treatment or combined with land-based physiotherapy to create a comprehensive, goal-focused rehabilitation programme.

For many children, combining hydrotherapy with clinic-based physiotherapy offers the best of both worlds. Skills developed in the pool can be carried over into land-based sessions, while improvements achieved in the clinic can be reinforced within the supportive aquatic environment.

Hydrotherapy can also be incorporated into our bespoke intensive therapy programmes, allowing children to benefit from a varied programme that may include land-based physiotherapy, Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI), hydrotherapy, strengthening, gait training, electrical stimulation, spinal stimulation and other specialist treatment techniques tailored to their individual needs.

Our Training

Hydrotherapy sessions are delivered by physiotherapists with specialist paediatric hydrotherapy training.

Maggie Dawson has completed specialist Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) Aquatic Physiotherapy training and has over 18 months of experience incorporating Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) into her clinical practice, including within hydrotherapy sessions where appropriate.

Bea (Holly Whitehead) has completed the Heather Epps Introduction to Hydrotherapy course and works alongside Maggie to provide engaging, evidence-based hydrotherapy sessions.

Location

Hydrotherapy sessions take place every fortnight on Saturday mornings at:

Broadstone Physio & Aquatic Centre
Broadstone, Dorset

 

Session Lengths & Fees

Session Length	Maggie	Bea
30 minutes	£90	£70
45 minutes	£135	£100
60 minutes	£170	£135

Who Can Benefit?

Hydrotherapy may benefit babies, children and young people with:

• Cerebral palsy
• Developmental delay
• Genetic conditions
• Neuromuscular conditions
• Acquired brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Hypermobility
• Orthopaedic conditions
• Sports injuries
• Children recovering from surgery or injury
• Children who simply benefit from practising movement in a supportive environment

Interested in Finding Out More?

If you would like to discuss whether specialist paediatric hydrotherapy could benefit your child, please get in touch.

We would be delighted to talk through your child's needs and help decide whether hydrotherapy should form part of their physiotherapy programme.