If you have an injury that causes a loss of normal functional mobility, you may be referred to

physical therapy by your doctor. Your physical therapist will then begin the process of treating
your injury and helping you return to normal function.
There are many different treatment options and modalities available in physical therapy. Some
of these treatments are aimed at decreasing pain or swelling, and some are used to help
improve strength, range of motion, or mobility. The whirlpool is one physical therapy
treatment that you may encounter.
Goals of Whirlpool Therapy
The typical goals of whirlpool use in the physical therapy clinic include:

Decrease swelling

Control inflammation

Promote wound healing

Improve motion

Decrease pain

Decrease muscle spasm

If your physical therapist decides to treat your injury with whirlpool therapy, be sure to ask
plenty of questions about your treatment. Make sure you understand what the goals of the
treatment are and what you should expect from the whirlpool treatment.
How is a Whirlpool Used in Physical Therapy?
The whirlpool is a large tub that is filled with water. The body part that is to be treated is then
placed in the tub of water, and a small motor agitates the water. While in the water, you can
move your body part to help improve the motion around the injured area.
Most whirlpools that you will encounter in a physical therapy clinic are small, and only your
arm or leg will be able to be placed in it. There are some whirlpools that are larger, and your
entire body can be placed inside.

The temperature of the water in the whirlpool can be warm or cold, depending on the desired
goal. Warm whirlpools can increase circulation, as the heat helps to open up small arteries in
the body. Increased circulation can bring fresh blood, oxygen, and cells to the injured area,
which can promote healing. The typical temperature of a warm whirlpool is 98-110 degrees
Fahrenheit. Care should be taken to avoid burns. Be sure to talk with your physical therapist
about your specific comfort level.
Cold whirlpools cause the arteries in the body to close, which can help to decrease circulation
to the body part being treated. This is used to help manage inflammation and swelling in the
injured body part. The temperature of a cold whirlpool is usually between 50 and 60 degrees
Fahrenheit.
A contrast bath treatment involves using a both warm whirlpool and cold whirlpool on the
same body part during treatment. Your injured body part is repeatedly moved from the warm
to cold water. You typically spend about 1 to 3 minutes in each bath, and a typical treatment
lasts for 15 to 20 minutes. The theory of contrast bath use is to create rapid opening and
closing of the arteries around the body part being treated. This creates a pumping effect in the
body part, which helps to decrease swelling around the injured site.
A typical whirlpool treatment lasts for 10 to 15 minutes. Your physical therapist may have you
perform certain exercises while your body part is in the whirlpool to help improve the range
of motion in the part being treated.
Common Conditions That May be Treated with Whirlpool Therapy
Commmon injuries and conditions that may be treated with whirlpool therapy include:

Ankle fracture

Plantar fasciitis

Lisfranc dislocation

Colles' and Smith's fractures

Ankle sprain

Tennis elbow

Achilles tendon rupture and tendinitis

Of course, this is just a short list of conditions that may benefit from whirlpool therapy. Just
about any body part can be treated with whirlpool therapy, as long as it can be placed in the
whirlpool.
Whirlpools can also be used in the treatment of wounds. If you have had surgery, you may
have a surgical scar with scabbing on it. You may also have a wound that needs to be
debrided, or cleaned. Your physical therapist may use the spinning action of the whirlpool to
help clean out your incision or wound. Treatment after the whirlpool for wound care involves
applying the correct dressing to ensure appropriate healing continues.
If you have suffered an injury and require physical therapy, you may have the opportunity to
experience a whirlpool treatment. Remember that whirlpool therapy should be only one
component to a rehabilitation program. Most research indicates that passive treatments, such
as whirlpools, may be helpful, but exercise and mobility are best to help improve function. By
working closely with your doctor and physical therapist, you can be sure to safely and quickly
get back to normal mobility.
WHIRLPOOL:
Indications:

Sub-acute or chronic inflammatory conditions.

Contraindications: Acute injuries because of the gravity-dependent position of the

limb, skin conditions (open wounds, infections)
Precautions:
- whirlpool must be connected to a ground fault interrupter
- do not turn the motor on or off while in water
- keep student-athlete in view during entire treatment
- do not run the whirlpool when it is empty

1. Cold whirlpool - used whenever cryotherapy is desired for a large body area or an
irregular area that is difficult to ice. The additional massaging action is helpful for
reducing swelling in sub-acute conditions.

Normal cold sensations will be: 1-3 minutes intense cold, 3-7 minutes aching pain and
burning feeling, 7+ minutes numbness.

2. Warm whirlpool - used whenever thermotherapy is desired. Helpful when used

before therapeutic massage, and helps to increase ROM of affected joint.

Temperatures:
Cold 55-65 F, Warm 100-104 F, Hot 104-110