Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy can transform the lives of disabled people but it is a rare resource in Gloucestershire. It will be the centrepiece of Chamwell with a new, state of the art hydrotherapy pool. It will be able to take a class of eight non-ambulant pupils and their one to one carers, making it one of the largest hydrotherapy pools in the country.

It will also include an eight bay non-ambulant changing room, with individual bays for changing trolleys and showers. Twin overhead hoist systems will transfer swimmers safely to the pool.

There will be a full range of hydrotherapy equipment for all levels of ability. Many of the children using the pool have sensory impairment or abnormal sensory processing, as often occurs with autism. For these, the surroundings can be transformed by a full range of sensory equipment, to achieve the right atmosphere for each class.

Skilled teachers and therapists, using the Halliwick technique of hydrotherapy, will ensure that everyone gets the most out of their session.

We will run professional hydrotherapy sessions outside school hours, for all those in the community who need it, including pupils in mainstream schools who have painful and disabling conditions such as muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, rheumatoid arthritis and other genetic and neurological conditions. Similar sessions will be offered for adults with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease and spinal problems.