Aqua therapy encompasses a broad set of approaches and techniques, including aquatic exercise, physical therapy, and other movement-based therapy in water. Treatment may be passive ( involving a therapist and patient), active(involving self-generated body positions, movement) or supervised by a physiotherapist. Examples include Halliwick Aquatic Therapy, Bad Ragaz and Watsu.

For orthopaedic rehabilitation, aqua therapy is synonymous with therapeutic aquatic exercise, aqua therapy, aquatic rehabilitation, water therapy, and pool therapy. Aqua therapy can support restoration of function for many areas of orthopaedics, including sports medicine, work conditioning, joint arthroplasty, and back rehabilitation programmes. A strong aqua component is especially beneficial for therapy programmes where limited or non-weight bearing is needed and where normal functioning is limited by inflammation, pain, muscle spasm, and limited range of motion (ROM). Water provides a controllable environment for reeducation of weak muscles and skill development for neurological and neuromuscular impairment, acute orthopaedic or neuromuscular injury, or recovery from recent surgery.