Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy, formerly called hydropathy and also known as water cure, is a branch of alternative medicine, occupational therapy and physiotherapy that uses water for pain relief and treatment, encompassing a broad range of approaches that take advantage of water temperature and pressure to stimulate blood circulation and treat symptoms of disease. Present-day hydrotherapy employs water jets, underwater massage, mineral baths, whirlpool baths, hot Roman baths, hot tubs, Jacuzzis and cold plunges, among other techniques. It lacks robust evidence supporting its efficacy beyond a placebo effect, and systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials have consistently found no clear evidence of curative benefit, citing methodological flaws and insufficient data.