Both water aerobics and hydrotherapy consist of exercises performed inside a swimming pool, however, these are activities that have different exercises and objectives and are also guided by different professionals.
Water aerobics is a set of exercises done in a swimming pool as a regular practice of physical activity, being guided by a physical education professional. Among its benefits are weight loss, improved cardiorespiratory conditioning, stress relief, anxiety and muscle strengthening. Discover 10 health benefits of water aerobics.
Hydrotherapy, on the other hand, is a modality guided by a physiotherapist and aims to recover from an injury in some part of the body, being a great way to complement the physiotherapeutic treatment program.
The table below indicates the main differences:
| Water aerobics | Hydrotherapy | |
| Who guides: | The class is taught by a physical education teacher | The class is given by a physical therapist |
| Main objective: | Physical conditioning, stress and anxiety relief and muscle strengthening | Body rehabilitation after injuries or heart problems |
| Who can do it: | Anyone who wants to start physical activity | Patients who need to develop strength and flexibility in the muscles, but cannot have an impact, achieving optimal contractions in the water |
| How long it takes: | On average 1 hour per class | On average 30 minutes, depending on the amount of exercises needed for rehabilitation |
| How are the classes: | Always in groups with equal exercises for everyone | It can be done individually, or even in a group, with different exercises for each person, unless they have similar needs |
| Where is the advisor: | Almost always outside the pool | In or out of the pool, depending on the patient's need |
Hydrotherapy also improves the quality of life of its practitioners, but it is a therapeutic resource used in physiotherapy to obtain an accelerated and effective recovery of patients. The exercises used in hydrotherapy are customized for each individual, in order to facilitate their rehabilitation and, generally, this therapy is indicated for orthopedic, muscular, neurological and respiratory injuries, for example. Find out which exercises are practiced in hydrotherapy.
According to the guidelines of CONFEF, only the physical educator can teach hydrogymnastics classes, and according to COFITO, only the physiotherapist can teach hydrotherapy classes, and both professionals must respect these guidelines, since they have such different objectives and methods. each other.
