HydroCo beyond™ – Lower Leg Hydrotherapy Beyond Expectation
Frequently Asked Questions
beyond™ is an innovative, wet or dry, lower leg hydrotherapy system designed and manufactured by HydroCo - a world leader in the manufacture of commercial hydrotherapy experience centers, servicing the Spa, wellness, medical and fitness industries in over 40 countries. HydroCo have showrooms in Melbourne, Australia and Los Angeles, USA - and distributors throughout Asia and Europe. 2. Why did HydroCo develop beyond™ ? The popularity of pedicure treatments over the recent years has seen the development of a vast number of what are commonly referred to as pedicure thrones or pedicure spa’s. Predominantly these units are all the same in that they consist of a foot bowl that allows water just above ankles, a few jets located within the bowl and have a glamorous, upholstered chair sitting above the bowl. They simply vary by color, how many jets, how cushioned the chair is and if the chair vibrates or massages ! All these units have another thing in common. They are fill & drain units, which means that the foot bowl is filled with water and drained after each use. The water that people have had their feet in has been re-circulated through a water channel - whether it be pipes or, as some units promote, through pipeless systems. With all these systems the water still passes through water channeling surfaces, as well as the bowl surface. The challenge has been maintaining a hygienic condition with many of these fill & drain foot spa’s, and there have been many reported cases of non-sanitary maintained units that have caused serious cross-infection of some very nasty pathogens - even though some of the manufacturers have been responsible by recommending sanitizing procedures. Unfortunately sometimes these procedures are not correctly followed or indeed are not adequate! HydroCo resisted designing and manufacturing a foot-spa for a period of over 7 years, even through the obvious growth surge and market demand for such a product. We did not want to simply put another ‘version’ of what has already been done. Sure we might have made a nicer shape, or even put extra padding in our chair - but that was not enough to motivate us. What did motivate us was an innovative concept that we came up with after clearly establishing the most important features that a foot-spa should incorporate in order to make it truly unique – safety & hygiene, high performance and water-wise operation. This was the stimulant behind the creation of beyond™. beyond™ is the most hygienic, highest performing and water-wise system available. Hygienic because the water in beyond™ is stored and maintained in a sealed water storage tank , the clients skin, nor the operators, comes into contact with this water throughout the treatment. In addition to this, another patent protected feature used to maintaining the hygienic condition of beyond™, is the on-board wash basin. The client’s feet are first located over the wash basin and cleansed thoroughly before proceeding with the treatment. The water used to wash the feet is immediately disposed of through the drain. Other systems wash the feet off in the bowl, in the same water that feet are going to soak in - and indeed many other feet.. High performance - The multistage, high pressure stainless steel water pump is capable of producing pressure in the order of 689 Kpa (100 PSI ) which is up to 10 times more pressure than other foot-spa’s available on the market. This pressure can be concentrated on specific areas of the lower leg / feet, and is an incredible sensation. Performance is also enhanced by the unique fixed polymer liner system utilized on beyond™ This polymer barrier compresses onto the entire lower limb, the mechanical properties produced by the water mass are transferred directly onto the limb and the thermal qualities of the water is also transferred directly onto the limb. The depth of beyond™’s water is well above the calf and up to knee height - as opposed to the bowls on most other units that hold only enough water to allow ankle coverage. 4. Why use barrier technology ? Patent protected barrier technology by HydroCo provides so many benefits when compared to the open water fill & drain units. It is because we use barrier technology with beyond™ that we are able to store around 80 litres ( 20 gallons) of water that is knee deep depth. If beyond™ did not have barrier technology then the water would require draining every time it was used. This would result in a considerable amount of water wastage. Because all fill & drain units waste water after each use, they can not responsibly utilize large volumes of water - and it is large volumes of water that is required to achieve knee-deep water levels. Without barrier technology, beyond™ would not be able to utilize a high pressure multi – stage pump that produces incredible water jet pressure, massaging limbs with up to 10 times more pressure of most other foot-spa’s. And, unlike other units, the water jets in beyond™ can be located high up on the calf near the water surface. Fill & drain units have very limited water pressure and agitation. Jet positioning is also very limited as there is no barrier to prevent the water from being expelled from the bowl and onto the floor. Without barrier technology, ‘compression therapy’ would not be possible. It is the mechanical properties of the water that compress the barrier onto the limb, creating an incredible sensation and enhancing the thermal transfer from the water onto the limb. Without barrier technology, hygienic conditions would not be so easy to maintain. It is the barrier that prevents beyond™’s tank water from coming into contact with both the operators and the client’s skin, and by doing so, prevents the water from becoming contaminated and, in-turn, posing a potential hygienic risk. Barrier technology provides an insulation barrier between the water and the open air ensuring maintenance of the water temperature within the tank Barrier technology provides a smooth and easy-to-maintain polymer surface that can be effectively sanitized within seconds. Podiatrist, Spa, wellness & medical center, beauty salon, golf club, experience center etc.. - beyond™’s innovative features and benefits make it an extremely versatile product that can enhance and add value to many types of business’s. 6. What kind of treatments can be offered with beyond™ ? beyond™ is a controlled volume of pre-heated water with strategically located high- pressure water jets – 8 in total. These jets have been located so that every part of the lower limb can be massaged with varying pressure. The warm water, compression, and high- pressure water jet action is believed to aid in the increase of blood circulation through the lower limbs which, in-turn, can be highly beneficial in the treatment of such conditions as diabetic foot and rheumatoid arthritis. Lower limb injuries sustained from sport or leisure activity may also benefit from beyond™’s performance. The massage sensation created by beyond™ is very relaxing and extremely enjoyable. Whilst the lower limbs are being massaged, additional pampering treatments can be performed – hands, arms, shoulders, neck and scalp may be massaged – completing the total pampering experience ! The HydroCo ‘treatment sock’ enables the lower limbs to have mud’s, seaweeds, oils, creams etc.. applied to them. The ‘treatment sock’ creates another barrier between the tank water and the client’s skin. This ‘treatment sock’ process provides an extremely efficient use of such products as medicants etc.., and also allows the addition of fluids within the ’treatment sock’. Soaking the lower limbs within the ‘treatment sock’ whilst experiencing beyond™’s high-pressure jet action is an excellent way to relax muscles and soften skin in preparation of additional services – pedicure, general foot care or a soothing foot / lower limb massage. 7. How can both wet & dry treatments be performed on beyond™ ? Dry treatment - Because of the unique barrier technology utilized with beyond™ - meaning the water in the tank does not contact the users skin – the benefits of water are still utilized. Thermal and mechanical properties are still effective during dry treatments. Dry treatments enable the use of beyond™ in communal fast traffic areas where the use of water is not appropriate. The disposable ‘treatment sock’ ensures that hygienic conditions are maintained. Clients simply remove their shoes, apply the ‘treatment sock’ and proceed to enjoy beyond™’s high performance lower limb hydro-massage. Wet treatment – The use of the ‘treatment sock’ enables the application of medicants, mud’s, seaweeds, oils, creams and fluids directly onto the skin within the ‘treatment sock’. Because of beyond™’s compression feature, only one half ( ½ ) cup of water or fluid of choice poured into the sock, is all that is required to completely wet the lower limb. Yes, beyond™’s dry or wet use flexibility opens up many opportunities never before possible with foot-spa’s. For example, beyond™ could easily be located at a kiosk in an airport, hotel or public arena - all that is required is an electrical supply. There is no need for plumbed hot & cold water services in order to operate beyond™. If wet treatments are to be performed in these special locations, then a portable supply of water is all that’s needed. 9. Where do we get the ‘treatment-sock’ from ? HydroCo have developed the ‘treatment-sock’ from recyclable FDA approved polymer material. The ‘treatment – sock’ is a low cost consumable that provides an extremely high level of hygiene – available directly from HydrCo or distributor. Yes. beyond™ can be leased for around USD14.00 per day. Typically only one beyond™ treatment sale per day is all that is required to cover the operating expenses associated with beyond™ - including consumables, labor and lease payments. 11. Are special electrical and plumbing services required ? beyond™ requires basic electrical and plumbing services. Electrical: 200 – 240 volt, 50 / 60Hz, 20 Amp supply on a dedicated GFCI line is required. Plumbing: Standard 12mm (1/2 inch) hot & cold water supply lines are required.
Standard 40mm (1 ½ inch ) drain line is required. 12. How is the water in beyond™ automatically temperature controlled ? beyond™ incorporates a high-efficient, long-life, stainless-steel heating element that operates automatically to maintain the water, within the tank, to an operating temperature. 13. Why is the separate wash basin incorporated in beyond™ so important ? The patent protected separate wash basin incorporated in beyond™ is a very unique and important feature. The wash basin allows the operator to wash & sanitize the client’s feet at the very beginning of the treatment. Unlike other foot spa’s, where the client’s feet are washed in the same water as they are going to soak in (as have the previous client’s feet…), the water used to wash the feet in beyond™ is drained immediately to waste - and does not mix with the tank water ! This is a significant advancement - and a hygienic procedure that will be automatically followed by operators of beyond™. 14. Can the 8 high pressure water jets in beyond™ be individually controlled ? Yes. The 8 high-pressure, high-flow water jets are strategically located within the tank: Zone 1 - 2 jets on the soles of the feet All zones are individually controlled via the control panel. One or more zones can be selected and pressure may be adjusted from a soft flow to an incredible high pressure force – up to 10 times greater than other foot-spa’s. beyond™ also incorporates an automatic cycle program that can operate each zone, one at a time, for 30 seconds – continually cycling through all zones. 15. Does the beyond™ chair recline and massage ? beyond™’s ergonomically, custom design chair reclines smoothly enabling the client to be appropriately positioned for additional services eg: facial, scalp, shoulder and arm massage. The chair has been specifically designed with a slim-line contoured back so that the operator can gain full, unobstructed access to the clients head, shoulders and upper arms. For reliable continued operation - beyond™’s chair does not incorporate vibratory massage motors. It is the opinion of HydroCo’s technical management team that the incorporation of vibratory motors may be detrimental to the long reliable operation and reputation of the beyond™ product. The beyond™ system incorporates only heavy duty commercial grade components for long life trouble free operation, and to date, HydroCo are yet to be convinced of the reliability and endurance of such vibratory / rolling sequence devices commonly used to produce mechanical massage effect. However, as a result of the very high turbulence and agitation generated in the water tank, a comfortable, soothing vibration throughout the chair is very evident and one that encourages relaxation. 16. Why does beyond™’s chair raise & lower ? beyond™’s chair is power operated and at the touch of a button raises & lowers. This enables the client to be positioned comfortably over the wash basin and at a height that prevents the need for the operator to bend and stretch in order to work on the foot and lower leg. beyond™ is extremely ergonomic and designed for operator as well as client comfort. No other foot-spa system provides this raise & lower feature. 17. How can ‘Fire & Ice’ treatments be performed with beyond™ ? The water contained within beyond™’s tank is automatically temperature-controlled, and maintained between 36 – 38 Celsius ( 96.8 – 100.4 F ) This temperature can be increased to around 40 – 42 Celsius (104.0 - 107.0 F) and, as a result of barrier technology, these elevated temperatures are relaxing and enjoyable and create an ideal basis for ‘Fire & Ice’ thermal contrast experience. As the lower limb becomes relaxed and muscles soften (as a result of the warm water thermal transfer and high pressure jet operation), pour a half cup of ice cold water into each ‘treatment sock’ directly onto the lower limbs. The sensation is out of this world and stimulating beyond belief . The ice cold water will rise in temperature within seconds – repeat the process several times. 18. Is beyond™ high maintenance ? No. The only day to day maintenance required is the wash & sanitizing of the contact surfaces of beyond™ between users. This procedure is to maintain the hygienic condition for the protection of subsequent users of the beyond™ system. The fixed polymer liners ( barrier) that contain the water within beyond™’s tank are manufactured from heavy duty, commercial grade polymer material. The liners may require replacement annually - or sooner - depending on the usage and general care. The replacement of the liner is a straight-forward procedure that can be carried out by a handyman - taking approximately 5 minutes to complete. The water level within the tub may require ‘topping up’ with fresh water from time to time as a result of natural evaporation, this is simply carried out via the on-board hand-shower
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