In Aquatic Bodywork, there is permanent physical contact between the therapist and client during the treatment. At the same time, the clients are moved almost continuously in the water and their entire skin surface is constantly stimulated by the water flowing past them. Compared to this stimulation, the contact area between therapist and client becomes comparatively small.

The flowing water corresponds to a touch that can best be described as “caressing” and is perceived through its own type of receptor (c-tactile fibres) (Walker, 2013). This information, transmitted by c-tactile fibres, is directed to areas in the brain which are used to process life-saving homeostasis information (such as thirst, body temperature, oxygen balance, etc.) (Olausson et al., 2008). A lack of activation of c-tactile fibres can therefore be perceived as an existential danger.