Hydrotherapy Adelaide | Physiotherapist-Led Hydro
Thrive Health Therapies provides one-to-one, physiotherapist-led hydrotherapy in Adelaide for teenagers and adults. Hydrotherapy, also known as aquatic physiotherapy, uses targeted exercises in a warm-water pool to support mobility, strength, balance, fitness, rehabilitation and pain management.
We currently offer hydrotherapy at Parafield Gardens Swim School. Our physiotherapists may also be able to provide hydrotherapy at another suitable pool across metropolitan Adelaide on request.
What is Physiotherapist-Led Hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy is a form of physiotherapy performed in water. The buoyancy of the water reduces the amount of weight placed through the body, while its natural resistance can be used to develop strength, balance and endurance.
This can make movement more comfortable or manageable for people who experience pain, weakness, reduced mobility, balance difficulties or fatigue on land.
Hydrotherapy at Thrive is delivered one-to-one by a qualified physiotherapist. Your exercises are selected according to your abilities, health needs and personal goals rather than provided as a general pool exercise program.
How Can Hydrotherapy Help?
Depending on your needs and goals, hydrotherapy may help you:
Improve mobility and walking
Develop strength and muscular endurance
Practise balance in a supported environment
Improve joint movement and flexibility
Manage pain and muscle tension
Reduce the load placed through painful joints
Manage muscle stiffness or spasticity
Build cardiovascular fitness and exercise tolerance
Recommence exercise following illness, injury or surgery
Practise movements that are difficult to complete on land
Increase confidence with physical activity
Your physiotherapist will determine whether exercising in water is appropriate for you and develop a program based on what you want to achieve.
Who May Benefit From Hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy may be suitable for teenagers and adults with neurological conditions, physical disabilities, musculoskeletal conditions, persistent pain or reduced mobility.
Our Adelaide physiotherapists work with people who may have:
Arthritis or joint pain
Persistent pain
Reduced balance or mobility
Reduced strength or exercise tolerance
An injury or recent surgery
Other neurological, genetic or physical conditions
You do not need to know whether hydrotherapy is right for you before making an enquiry. Our team can discuss your circumstances and help determine whether an assessment would be appropriate.
Hydrotherapy for Neurological Conditions
Water can provide a supportive environment for people with neurological conditions to practise movements that may be difficult, tiring or unsafe on land.
Our physiotherapists can use hydrotherapy to work towards goals involving walking, balance, transfers, strength, coordination, cardiovascular fitness and general mobility. Warm water may also assist some people in managing muscle stiffness, spasticity or discomfort.
Where appropriate, hydrotherapy can form part of a broader neurological physiotherapy program that also includes sessions at home, in the community or at our accessible rehabilitation clinic in Findon.
Learn more about neurological physiotherapy
Hydrotherapy for Pain, Arthritis and Rehabilitation
The buoyancy of water reduces the load placed through joints and can make exercise more manageable for people experiencing arthritis, joint pain, persistent pain or reduced mobility.
Aquatic physiotherapy may also be incorporated into rehabilitation following an injury or operation when clinically appropriate. The water allows exercises to be adjusted gradually as strength, movement, fitness and confidence improve.
Hydrotherapy is not suitable at every stage of recovery, so your physiotherapist will consider your medical history, current restrictions and rehabilitation goals before developing your program.
What to Expect From Hydrotherapy
Initial Physiotherapy Assessment: Before beginning hydrotherapy, your physiotherapist will assess your mobility, strength, balance, range of movement and current level of function. They will also discuss your health history, any relevant precautions and what you would like to achieve.
Your Individual Hydrotherapy Program: Your physiotherapist will develop an individual exercise program based on your assessment. Your session may include exercises targeting walking, balance, mobility, strength, flexibility or cardiovascular fitness.
One-to-One Support in the Pool: Hydrotherapy sessions are delivered individually by a physiotherapist. Your physiotherapist can demonstrate exercises, provide assistance and adjust the program according to your abilities and how you respond.
Review and Progression: Your program can be reviewed and progressed as your abilities and goals change. When appropriate, hydrotherapy may be combined with physiotherapy at our Findon clinic, in your home or elsewhere in the community.
Hydrotherapy Locations in Adelaide
We currently offer hydrotherapy at Parafield Gardens School, located at 96 Kings Rd, Parafield Gardens, SA, 5107.
If Parafield Gardens is not convenient, our physiotherapists may be able to provide hydrotherapy at another suitable pool across metropolitan Adelaide on request. This will depend on therapist availability and the suitability of the pool.
Please contact our team to discuss your preferred location and our current availability.
Why Choose Thrive Health Therapies for Hydrotherapy in Adelaide?
Qualified Physiotherapists: Your hydrotherapy is planned and delivered by a qualified physiotherapist, with exercises selected according to your clinical needs and personal goals.
Individual Sessions: We provide one-to-one aquatic physiotherapy rather than a general pool exercise class.
Experience With Disability and Neurological Conditions: Our physiotherapists work with people who have a broad range of neurological conditions, physical disabilities, mobility needs and complex presentations.
Flexible Adelaide Locations: Hydrotherapy is available at a suitable pool in Parafield Gardens. Our physiotherapists may also be able to provide sessions at another suitable pool across metropolitan Adelaide on request.
Hydrotherapy and Land-Based Physiotherapy: When appropriate, hydrotherapy can be combined with physiotherapy at home, in the community or at our accessible rehabilitation clinic and gym in Findon. Explore our Findon clinic.
Inclusive and Individualised Care: We provide inclusive, neuroaffirming and person-centred services. Your physiotherapist will work with you to develop a program that reflects your preferences, abilities and priorities.
Hydrotherapy Funding and Referrals
We accept hydrotherapy referrals through a range of funding arrangements, including:
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
Support at Home
Private health insurance
Private funding
GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP)
A referral is generally not required for private or NDIS-funded hydrotherapy. Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Chronic Disease Management and other funding programs may require specific referral or approval documentation.
Please contact our team if you are unsure whether your funding can be used for hydrotherapy.
Meet our Physiotherapists
Leela Bala (she/her)
Senior Physiotherapist
Leela has over 15 years of experience as a physiotherapist across community, rehabilitation and hospital settings in the UK and Singapore. Now settling into life in Australia, she is excited to apply her experience within the NDIS and support people to achieve meaningful goals. Leela takes a practical, person-centred approach and enjoys helping clients build strength, mobility, confidence and independence. She enjoys spending time with family, meeting new people and discovering Adelaide’s best food spots. She is always happy to receive a good restaurant recommendation!
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Age Groups: Adults
Service Locations: Findon Clinic & throughout metropolitan Adelaide
Therapy Services: Neurological rehabilitation, ongoing physiotherapy, functional assessment, gait and mobility rehabilitation, balance and falls prevention, exercise prescription, manual handling and equipment assessments, community rehabilitation and hydrotherapy
Areas of Support:
Neurological disorders - Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, Motor Neurone Disease (MND), Cerebral Palsy (CP)
Amputees
Intellectual disabilities
Frailty, Aged care and Dementia
Falls, Balance and Mobility difficulties
Orthopaedic and Post-Surgical Rehabilitation - Hip and Knee replacements
Reduced strength, endurance and functional independence
Rachel King (she/her)
Director and Senior Physiotherapist
Rachel is Thrive’s Director and has 13 years of experience working in community rehabilitation across Australia and Cambodia. She also holds a Master of Public Health. Rachel is passionate about helping clients work towards meaningful goals through her clinical practice. She works closely with the broader team to ensure Thrive provides fair, professional and knowledgeable services that respond to each client’s individual needs. Rachel enjoys spending time with her family and keeping her energetic kelpies entertained!
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Age Groups: Adults & teenagers
Service Locations: Findon Clinic & throughout metropolitan Adelaide
Therapy Services: Ongoing therapy, hydrotherapy, assistive technology reviews, manual handling reviews, exercise prescription
Clinical Expertise In:
Neurological disorders: stroke, TBI, MS, Parkinson’s disease, SCI, dementia & cerebral palsy
Chronic & genetic conditions: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, fibromyalgia, POTS
Autism
Intellectual Disabilities
Musculoskeletal Conditions - osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis
Mental Health Conditions
Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
Dementia & Aging
Jonathan Norodom (he/him)
Senior Physiotherapist
Jonathan has over 5 years of experience in musculoskeletal and community Physiotherapy, with a strong focus on supporting NDIS participants. He is passionate about exercise-based rehabilitation, mobility and strength training, and helping people build independence in daily life. Jonathan has worked with participants living with stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, autism, and other developmental and physical disabilities. He strives to help each participant achieve their personal goals and improve their overall quality of life.
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Age Groups: Adults
Service Locations: Findon Clinic, Metro Adelaide, Northern Suburbs
Therapy Services: Ongoing therapy, hydrotherapy, supervised gym, home exercise program prescription, manual handling care plan reviews.
Clinical Expertise In:
Neurological Disorders: Stroke, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, TBI, Cerebral Palsy
Amputees
Autism
Intellectual Disabilities
Dementia & Aging
Chronic & genetic conditions: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, fibromyalgia, POTS
Nicolette Alberts (she/her)
Senior Physiotherapist
Nicolette is an experienced physiotherapist with over 15 years of clinical practice, specialising in rehabilitation and community-based neurological care. She has extensive experience supporting people with conditions including stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. Nicolette works with clients in their homes and communities to improve function, independence and quality of life. She focuses on what matters most to each individual and develops practical strategies to help them achieve meaningful and realistic goals.
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Age Groups: Adults
Service Locations: Findon Clinic, metropolitan Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills.
Therapy Services: Ongoing therapy, hydrotherapy, assistive technology reviews, manual handling reviews, exercise prescription
Clinical Expertise In:
Amputees
Neurological disorders: stroke, TBI, MS, Parkinson’s disease, SCI, dementia & cerebral palsy
Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
Dementia & Aging
Intellectual Disabilities
Hetvi Thaker (she/her)
Physiotherapist
Hetvi brings valuable experience in community rehabilitation. She has a strong interest in helping her clients achieve their goals through active, exercise-based therapy. Hetvi has experience working with people with amputations, stroke, spinal cord injuries, acquired brain injury, as well as people with neurological conditions such as motor neurone disease and Parkinson's disease. She strives to help clients improve their quality of life, independence and function by achieving their goals.
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Age Groups: Adults
Service Locations: Findon Clinic & throughout metropolitan Adelaide
Therapy Services: Ongoing therapy, hydrotherapy, assistive technology reviews, manual handling reviews, exercise prescription
Clinical Expertise In:
- Amputations
- Spinal cord injuries
- Acquired brain injuries
- Stroke
- Gait rehabilitation
- MND
- Parkinson's
- Other neurological conditions
Frequently Asked Questions About Hydrotherapy in Adelaide
If you can’t find an answer to your question, please contact our friendly team on 0474 248 081 or email enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com.
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Hydrotherapy is physiotherapy performed in water. A physiotherapist uses the buoyancy, warmth and resistance of the water to support exercises targeting mobility, balance, strength, flexibility, fitness, rehabilitation or pain management. It is also commonly called aquatic physiotherapy.
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No. Hydrotherapy does not involve learning to swim or completing a general swimming program. It involves specific therapeutic exercises selected and supervised by a physiotherapist.
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You do not necessarily need to be a confident swimmer to participate in hydrotherapy. However, suitability depends on your individual needs, safety and the facilities available at the pool. Your physiotherapist can discuss this with you before treatment begins.
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We provide hydrotherapy at Parafield Gardens Swim School, located at 96 Kings Rd, Parafield Gardens SA 5107. Sessions at another suitable pool across metropolitan Adelaide may also be arranged on request, subject to therapist availability and the suitability of the pool.
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A referral is generally not required if you are paying privately or using NDIS funding. Some funding arrangements, including Department of Veterans’ Affairs and Chronic Disease Management plans, require referral documentation from your GP.
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Hydrotherapy may be provided using NDIS funding when it relates to your disability, goals and funded supports. We work with self-managed, plan-managed and NDIA-managed participants.
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Yes. Depending on your needs, your physiotherapy program may include a combination of hydrotherapy and sessions at our Findon clinic, in your home or in the community.
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Your physiotherapist will consider your health, mobility, goals and any relevant precautions before recommending hydrotherapy. You can contact our team to discuss your circumstances before submitting a referral.
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