3 Ways Hydrotherapy Jets Boost Performance for Athletes

Jets are a versatile feature that allow therapists to customize hydrotherapy treatments based on athlete needs. Jets can be used to create challenging strength and conditioning sessions, or they can be used to massage muscles during recovery sessions. In this post we’ll review 3 ways to leverage jets to boost athletic performance.

#1 Strength Training

Therapy jets provide progressive resistance for assisted and resistive exercises. Concentrating the force of water in different areas of the body can create a resistance-band-like experience. Water-based training programs remove strain from joints allowing athletes to engage in challenging strength training programs without the joint impact.  Athletes engage in dynamic exercises like:

1. Resistance-Based Leg Lifts: Positioned against therapeutic jets, this exercise intensifies lower-body workouts, enhancing strength and endurance through hydrodynamic resistance.
   
2. Dynamic Arm Curls: Using water buoyancy, athletes perform arm curls facing therapeutic jets, strengthening the upper body in a joint-friendly setting.
   
3. Aqua Jogging with Variable Resistance: Moving against therapeutic jets adds challenge to cardiovascular workouts, promoting endurance and providing a low-impact option for injury recovery. Therapists can add ankle weights or hand buoys based on athlete goals.
   

In HydroWorx pools and freestanding units, jets are designed to improve cardiovascular stamina, circulation, and create varied muscle engagement for athletes. Learn more about HydroWorx pools and HydroWorx freestanding units.

#2 Agility Training

Adding jet resistance to hydrotherapy sessions for balance and agility training provides a unique environment to level up performance. Here’s a benefits of adding jets to your agility training programs:

1. Resistance Variation: Hydrotherapy jets create variable resistance, challenging muscles and enhancing strength, especially in the legs and core.
   
2. Enhanced Range of Motion: Buoyancy reduces joint impact, allowing a wider range of motion for lateral movements, quick direction changes, and dynamic footwork.
   
3. Improved Balance and Stability: Water’s natural buoyancy enhances proprioception and overall stability, crucial for agility and rapid movements.
   
4. Reduced Impact Stress: Hydrotherapy offers a low-impact environment that minimizes joint stress, enabling athletes to focus on improving agility without injury concerns.
   
5. Dynamic Jet-Driven Drills: Adapt land drills for water such as lateral shuffles or explosive jumps to create challenging agility workouts in a controlled setting.
   

#3 Speed Training

Combining jet resistance with underwater treadmill speed can create a challenging environment to work on speed. The buoyancy of water reduces impact stress on joints, making it an ideal setting for integrating speed training programs, enhancing quickness and agility with reduced injury risk.

Using Jets for Recovery

After challenging workouts jets can also be used to provide a targeted massage to jump start muscle recovery.

“We would turn the jets on with the massage hoses and strip out their lower back muscles and their glutes.” 

Aaron Borgman, former NFL Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainer

Contact us today if you’re ready to add hydrotherapy to your training room.