Whirlpool baths use warm water and jets of water or air to produce turbulence, combining the therapeutic effects of heat and gentle massage. There are several types of whirlpool baths suited for different body parts. Whirlpool baths are used to improve circulation, reduce pain and stiffness, clean wounds, and prepare areas for further physiotherapy. Contraindications include infections, bleeding, or impaired circulation. Whirlpool baths provide sedative, pain-relieving effects and help relax muscles and break down scar tissue.

1. Whirlpool bath
By : Iram Anwar

2. WHIRLPOOL BATH
Water Applications Combined With Mechanical
Stimulation

3. • USAGE OF WATER FOR THERAPEUTIC PURPOSES
• USE OF WHIRLPOOL BATH HAS BECOME
INCREASINGLY VALUABLE MEANS OF
PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC TREATMENT

4. Principle of application
• THE PRINCIPLE OF WHIRLPOOL THERAPY IS TO
COMBINE THE EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE WITH
THE MECHANICAL EFFECTS OF WATER
• WARM WHIRLPOOL CONTAINS WATER AT
TEMPERATURE RANGES BETWEEN 36-45 DEGREE
CELECIUS AND A JET OF WATER OR AIR STREAM
ALLOWED TO PRODUCE TURBULENCE IN WATER

5. • THIS TURBULENCE IS PRODUCED BY A ELECTRICAL
MOTOR INCORPORATED INTO THE APPARATUS
• DEPENDING UPON THE APPARATUS,WHIRLPOOL BATH
CAN BE USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF LIMBS OR WHOLE
BODY

6. Types of Whirlpool Baths
• Low boy tank
• High boy tank
• Hubbard tank
• Extrimity tank

7. • 1.Low boy tank- The Low Boy Tank can be used
to allow an adult to sit in the tank and can range in capacity
from 75 to 105 gallons

8. • 2.High boy tank-
• sometimes referred to as a hip
or leg tank, can allow for the
immersion of both lower
extremities
• Capacity can range from 60 to
105 gallons

9. • 3.Full body immersion/Hubbard
tank-
• The Hubbard Tank has a greater potential for exercise
during treatment due to it's size and can accomodate a
full body treatment
• Capacity can range anywhere from 200 gallons to more
than 400 gallons

10. • Full body immersion/Hubbard tank- figure 8
pattern. The pattern can allow for easy access to the
patient. Note that the larger tanks can also have more
than one turbine for agitation.

11. •Full body immersion/Hubbard tank-
•Butterfly shape
•Underwater exercises

12. Hubbard tank
• 8 feet long * 6 feet wide * 4 feet deep
• 425 gallons of water
• Turbines, stretcher, hoist
• Chances of contamination
• Expensive secondary to amount of water, time to
clean

13. • 4.Extrimity tank- The Extremity Tank is
usually used for the upper or lower extremities and has a
capacity of 10 to 45 gallons of water

15. Temperature Range
• Cold: 55-65 degrees F acute inflammation
• Cool: 65-80 degrees F acute inflammation
• Tepid: 80-95 degrees F exercise, acute inflammation if
cold not tolerated, open wound, dec tone
• Warm: 96-99 degrees F mobility, burns
• Hot: 99-104 degrees F pain, ROM, soft tissue
extensibility
• Very Hot: 104-110 degrees F-chronic conditions

16. Technique of application
1. The whirlpool tank is filled with water
2. The water temperature is checked by hand and thermometer
3. Adjust the patient’s position in accordance to the treated
body part and considering both comfort and security.
4. Explain the procedure and reassure the patient
5. Place the body part in the water
6. Encourage the patient to move while keeping the body part
under water during the treatment in case of joint involvement
7. After completion of treatment, dry the body part and wrap it
keeping it warm

17. Therapeutic effects
• The whirlpool bath combines the values of
conductive heat and gentle massage
• A sedative action.
• A relief of pain by stimuli which act through the
pain gait mechanism.
• A relaxation of muscle spasms.

18. Actions
1. Producing vasodilatation
2. Improving local arterial and lymphatic circulation.
3. Softening of scar tissue.
4. Breaking down old adhesions after fractures of sprains.
5. Cleaning and stimulation of wounds.
6. Mechanically removing dirt, dead tissue and pus.
7. Causing regression of the inflammatory process.
8. Diminution of edema and effusion.

19. • THE PART TO BE TREATED IS IMMERSED
INTO THE WATER AND JET OF STREAM IS
ALLOWED TO PRODUCE TURBULENCE IN
THE HOT WATER
• TREATMENT IS USUALLY GIVEN FOR 15-20
MINUTES

21. • WHIRLPOOL BATHS IS USED IN RHEUMATIC
DISORDERS,POST TRAUMATIC STIFFNESS AND JOINT
PAIN
• IT IS EFFECTIVELY USED IN SPORTS MEDICINE FOR
RELAXATION AFTER PRACTICE OR COMPETITION

23. USES
• Burns if no agitation is used
• Open wounds for debridment purposes
• Post-operative orthopedic conditions where the water
will add a bouyancy element to eliminate the weight of
the extrmity for movement
• As a resistance force for exercise

24. Indications
1. Poor circulation
2. Chronic edema
3. Separate dead tissue
4. Pain relief in amputations ( phantom pain)
5. After removal of plaster cast (fractures)
6. Stiff joints
7. Infected wounds → with added antiseptic agent
8. Arthritis with stiff and swollen joints
9. Polyomyelitis and paraplegia to improve circulation
10. Traumatic and chronic inflammatory conditions
11. Weak and painful feet
12. As preparation to massage, passive stretching and exercises

25. CONTRAINDICATIONS
• FVERISH PATIENT
• RECENT SKIN GRAFTS
• CIRCULATORY IMPAIRMENT
• ACTIVE BLEEDING
• OPEN WOUNDS
• SKIN ALLERGY
• HAEMMORHAGE