A part of alternative medicine, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy that involves the use of water for pain relief and treatment. The term encompasses a broad range of approaches and therapeutic methods that take advantage of the physical properties of water, such as temperature and pressure, for therapeutic purposes, to stimulate blood circulation, and treat the symptoms of certain diseases.
Currently hydrotherapy employs water jets and/or underwater massage in a mineral bath or whirlpool bath, hot tub, jacuzzi, or cold plunge.
Hydrotherapy is also used as a medium for delivery of heat and cold to the body, which has long been the basis for its application. Hydrotherapy involves a range of methods and techniques, many of which use water as a medium to facilitate thermoregulatory reactions for therapeutic benefit.

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Adapted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Internet. Accessed on November 25, 2019.