Hydrotherapy pool: what is it and how does it contribute to wellness

The hydrotherapy pool harnesses the therapeutic properties of water and enhances them through state-of-the-art technology to provide unique health benefits.

While the healing capacities of water have been well known across history, today the hydrotherapy pool has become a hallmark of wellness facilities, spas, sport centers, hotels and resorts, looking to offer a uniquely healing experience.

What are the present-day possibilities in hydrotherapy pool design and the main benefits of incorporating this type of pool into wellness and recreational spaces? Keep reading to find out.

What is a hydrotherapy pool?

Warm, soothing and invigorating at the same time, a hydrotherapy pool is at the heart of many thermal facilities and aquatic spaces, and presents the following characteristics:

• Kept at warm temperatures of around 33ºC to 36ºC (warmer than a regular indoor swimming pool)
• Presents built-in massaging jets and other water features to boost wellness and relaxation.

As such, the hydrotherapy pool is an essential part of water therapy, which harnesses the unique properties of water to promote wellness and recovery while also providing aid for a range of conditions, as seen below in this article.

Types of hydrotherapy pools

• Vitality pool: The most common type of hydrotherapy pool, it consists of an aquatic installation that combines water effects (such as waterfalls or cervical massages) with air effects (such as hydromassage beds) providing a complete wellness experience.
• Hot tubs and whirlpools: Based around water movement, they are usually shallower than standard swimming pools. In order to make the most of the healing properties of water, these installations use pumps and jets to make hot water circulate.
• Cold plunges: While warm water is the most commonly used in thermal wellness experiences, some hydrotherapy pools also offer cold water plunges to provide temperature contrasts. This includes the well-known cold plunges, which promote their own set of health benefits.

Is the hydrotherapy pool good for you? 7 hydrotherapy pools benefits and some precautions

Through a combination of warm water and massaging jets, this aquatic facility provides the following advantages for both body and mind:

• Instant relief and soothing for aching muscles and joint pain. Hydrotherapy is a great choice for recovery processes after workout and sport sessions, providing the perfect ending by relieving stress and muscular tension. This is also the reason why hydrotherapy can be beneficial for patients suffering from arthritis.
• Jets help stimulate the lymphatic system and assist in flushing out toxins.
• Help with circulatory issues, especially when combined with cold water for contrast.
• Chronic pain patients can also benefit from hydrotherapy sessions.
• It can provide relief for headaches.
• It’s often associated with improvements in mental health conditions such as stress and anxiety.
• Guided hydrotherapy sessions are prescribed by both doctors and physiotherapists to improve mobility, function and strength recoveries. More specifically, they can help in rehabilitation processes for limb injuries, hip replacements, neurological conditions, and more advanced back problems.

It’s important to mention here that people suffering from any particular medical condition should seek professional advice before using a hydrotherapy pool (or any spa facilities) so that any potential risk is avoided.

Additionally, in order to have access to these benefits, taking some precautions when accessing a hydrotherapy pool is advisable:

• Just like other aquatic facilities, hydrotherapy pools should be avoided during digestive processes. It’s also not advisable to use hydro pools while drinking alcohol, which can cause risks such as dehydration.
• Pregnant women should avoid hydrotherapy pools as they are based on heat, and also present additional risks such as water jets and slippery surfaces.
• People with cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, respiratory infections or those who have undergone recent surgeries must consult their doctors before using hydrotherapy pools. For further prevention, they should also let pool staff know about their medical issues.
• Drinking water and having food ready is advisable after a hydrotherapy session. The effect of hydrotherapy sessions may fluctuate between relaxing and invigorating, so that users may then turn to a successful gym visit or a relaxing time accompanied by a healthy meal.

Key elements to design a hydrotherapy pool

Designing a hydrotherapy pool requires a comprehensive understanding of this equipment as a whole: from its therapeutic potential, to notions around user accessibility, safety standards, as well as a focus on its mechanical systems.
As such, here are some of the key elements to consider when designing a hydrotherapy pool:

Pool size

The size of the pool is the first key thing that must be taken into consideration, as it firstly determines budget requirements and the number of additional elements that can be incorporated (from benches to water jets and hydromassage effects, among many others).

Typically, a hydrotherapy pool is between 1.2m and 1.5m deep. Width and length are variable and can adjust to each project and client’s needs.

Space for the technical room

Pool designers must make sure there’s enough space for the required technical room and environmental controls, needed in every hydrotherapy pool for its correct management.

Usually, the size of the technical room is directly linked to the pool size – the bigger the pool, the bigger the technical room. Besides, this space should ideally be as close as possible to the pool, making servicing easier and enhancing performance of elements such as pumps, piping networks, and so on.

In-ground or above-ground locations

A hydrotherapy pool can be installed above ground, in-ground, or partially in-ground, being different in terms of comfort, accessibility and aesthetics. For each of these options, separate design requirements must be considered.

For instance, pools that are installed completely flush with the ground normally take longer to be installed, and require a bigger hole to be dug out. On the contrary, if the pool is being installed above ground, less planning is needed.

Materials

Today, hydrotherapy pools can be made in a wide variety of materials, all of which translate into particular benefits and requirements in terms of construction times and preparation.

For instance, a tiled pool will mean a significantly longer construction time, because the concrete that is required extends installation times and also needs to be treated. On the other hand, some materials such as stainless steel tend to take longer in terms of manufacturing but are easily and quickly installed. The additional benefit of using custom-made stainless steel pieces should also be considered when it comes to picking materials for a hydrotherapy pool.

Additional features

Jet spas, access steps and lounging positions are some of the additional features that can be incorporated to make a hydrotherapy pool stand out. These possibilities must be thought of at the design stage, taking the pool’s additional value to the next level while also giving pool suppliers a more exact idea in terms of budget and the pool’s final look.

Water turnover systems

Water recirculation times may vary according to national regulations in the pool’s location, as well as the pool’s size and its projected use in terms of number of users, continuity and intensity, among other factors.

Water treatment equipment

A perfect pool experience can only be guaranteed if the right water treatment systems are incorporated so that water is kept in optimal conditions, ensuring users’ comfort and health.

While traditional filtration systems have provided disinfection through conventional dosification systems with chlorine, current systems offer more efficient and sustainable alternatives such as Neolysis, which use a combination of UV technology with low salinity electrolysis.

Dehumidification

As hydrotherapy pools are usually installed indoors, efficient air treatment systems must be guaranteed for dehumidification, in order to avoid undesired humidity increase as a result of pool water evaporating.

A range between 55-65% in humidity levels is recommended for a pleasant and hygienic environment, thus reducing the proliferation of pathogens and maintaining the installation in adequate conditions for longer.

Heating and cooling

Swimming pool temperature is key for pool operators to guarantee pleasant experiences for their users as well as adequate safety, hygiene and efficiency.

While there are multiple heating and cooling solutions that can provide the right swimming pool temperature, heat pumps (such as Zodiac’s Z950 and ProHeat II) provide an ideal solution in terms of energy efficiency and cost reduction.

FAQs about hydrotherapy pools

What is a hydrotherapy pool?

A hydrotherapy pool is a pool designed for therapeutic purposes. This means in this type of pool water presents warmer than usual temperatures (typically 33–36°C / 91–97°F); a shallow to moderate depth; and is equipped with features like jets, massage bubbles or water currents. All built with the purpose of harnessing the potential of these elements to provide unique therapeutic advantages.

What is the difference between a hydrotherapy pool and a normal pool?

As a general rule, hydrotherapy pools and conventional pools present a series of differences that emanate from these facilities’ distinct purposes: the first is built with therapeutic aims (rehabilitation, physical or mental therapy), the latter, for recreation or fitness swimming.

Following this main distinction, they also present different design characteristics. For instance, therapeutic pools are often built for easy access, present a smaller size and a shallow depth and incorporate diverse features (jets, massage zones…) for specific therapeutic use; on the other hand, conventional pools are frequently larger and deeper, and are focused on swimming experiences.

Finally, water temperature can also be mentioned as another key difference, as hydrotherapy pools are often warmer than conventional pools (around 33 – 36ºC).

What are the benefits of hydrotherapy pools?

The hydrotherapy pool presents a wide variety of benefits, building from the therapeutic potential of warm water with the added value of jets and other devices to promote muscle massaging and water currents.

Evidence of its wide range of therapeutic effects is a review of scientific literature published in 2014 which already points that “hydrotherapy was widely used to improve immunity and for the management of pain, CHF, MI, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, asthma, PD, AS, RA, OAK, FMS, anorectal disorders, fatigue, anxiety, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, hyperthermia, labor, etc.”

In addition to this review of scientific literature around hydrotherapy, some of the key benefits of this type of pools can be described as follows:

• Pain relief and mobility improvements. The combination of warm water temperature and hydrostatic pressure allows for distinct benefits in decreasing pain signals, relaxing muscles and increasing blood flow. As such, this means the hydrotherapy pool is often part of recovery protocols after sports and for recovery after injuries. Meanwhile, it is also linked to improvements in patients with chronic arthritis, injuries, neurological disorders, or post-surgical limitations. For instance, Dias et al., 2017 looked at how hydrotherapy improved pain and function in older women with knee osteoarthritis.
• Cardiovascular improvements. Thanks to vasodilation that takes place in warm water, as well as the hydrostatic pressure, the hydrotherapy pool has been linked to improvements in cardiovascular activity. For instance, the 2014 review cited above mentions improved cardiac function in a patient with chronic heart failure (CHF).
• Relaxation and stress reduction. Warm water has been linked with soothing capacities for both muscle tension as well as lowering stress. For instance, Robiner (1990) analyzed the psychological reactions to whirlpool baths, finding ten-minute immersions led to improved mood and reduced feelings of anxiety.

The added business value of a hydrotherapy pool and how to implement it

As the benefits of hydrotherapy pools are increasingly recognised, different types of businesses see the positive outcomes of including a hydrotherapy pool in their facilities.

From wellness centers to sport clubs, spas, hotels and resorts, a hydrotherapy pool provides a quick return on investment as this facility expands its offer and appeals to a wide and varied type of guests.

While leisure pools can be a crucial point of attraction for certain types of businesses (especially family-oriented ones), hydrotherapy installations contribute to a distinctive and more exclusive atmosphere that targets other types of public. Additionally, pool design developments today can also be directed towards the design of child-friendly spas, appealing to families as users.

Furthermore, the possibility of choosing multiple alternatives in terms of size, shapes and colors in hydrotherapy pools can take branding options further for businesses, given that they may build a coherent mood that enhances users’ experiences as well as the company’s visual identity.

Additionally, with the development of automated systems based on remote control, these systems’ management is completely user-friendly, efficient and sustainable, which will provide savings to the operator.

All in all, the hydrotherapy pool provides a total body and mind experience that attracts health-oriented users.

In order to achieve this, however, it’s key to count on the advice of professionals on pool design and implementation. This is where Fluidra comes in. We help operators design wellness areas that make a difference. Take a look at our wellness center solutions and find out more about how to implement a hydrotherapy tool that is aligned with your business.

Originally published May 11, 2022, updated August 13, 2025