HydroWorx is a unique product development and manufacturing business located near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The entrepreneurial business consists of passionate people committed to innovating and servicing products that improve the lives of patients and athletes throughout the world.

So many wonderful individuals have helped our business grow through the years; what follows is an abbreviated version of how the business got its start.

The Genesis of HydroWorx

The HydroWorx dream began in the spring of 1987, when Dr. Paul Hetrick first witnessed an underwater treadmill contraption at a local horse track. The developer of the underwater treadmill was a horse trainer who had built an industrial-strength treadmill pool to rehabilitate injured racehorses at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pennsylvania. Hetrick's reaction to the horse treadmill was immediate and purposeful—he planned to employ this radical technology for his human patients but with key improvements to the design. He had been searching for new ways to rehabilitate his patients for years.

On Hetrick's urging and a handshake deal, he and the horse trainer set to work, tinkering on weekends at the trainer's shop in New Jersey. Hetrick thrust himself into improving the horse treadmill system by adding powerful jets and a moveable floor system among other inventions. Ultimately, the pair developed a highly functional aquatic therapy machine that was installed at Hetrick's rehabilitation facility in Middletown, PA. It was the first of many versions of the HydroWorx prototype.

Before this chance encounter at the race track, Hetrick's first experience with aquatic therapy occurred during his childhood. At thirteen years of age, while tossing a medicine ball at his school, he violently struck his head on a porcelain water fountain. As a result, his brain swelled and his balance and muscle control were affected. Hetrick was confined to a wheelchair, having lost the use of his legs.

The medical community was surprised when the young Hetrick recovered nine months later, largely by rehabbing in a pool at the local Hummelstown, PA Swim Club.

A Business is Launched

In the early 90's, a recently licensed Pennsylvania attorney was introduced to Dr. Hetrick for help with a knee injury. After rehabbing in Hetrick's invention for several months, Anson Flake was intrigued by the potential of the aquatic therapy machine. Hopeful to introduce the technology to the healthcare and sports markets, Flake wrote a business plan and asked Hetrick to consider starting a company centered upon the invention. After about 6 months, the men "pooled" their efforts and started HydroWorx with assistance from Hetrick's partner.

Their first task was to re-engineer the earlier prototype and test the new design at Hetrick's rehabilitation clinic with patients and friends. Following a successful testing period, the men spent several years seeking government approval to market the machine and finding the capital to execute the business plan. It was a slow, painful process.

Years passed until HydroWorx became its own stand-alone business in May of 1997. Flake went full-time with HydroWorx, becoming its CEO, while Hetrick continued to expand his clinical rehabilitation practice and serve on HydroWorx's board.

Early on, Flake found it difficult to convince sports and healthcare professionals to invest in the HydroWorx machine. Clinics and sports teams asked, "If it's that fantastic, why doesn't anyone other than The Hetrick Center in Middletown, PA own one?" No one was willing to take the initial plunge and the struggles that ensued nearly sank the company.

Two Key "Believers" Join the Team

In 1998, Mike McHugh was captain of the Hershey Bears professional hockey club and was ready to retire after a solid 10-year pro hockey career. During his last year on the ice, McHugh suffered a knee injury that led him to Hetrick's invention. The water machine enabled McHugh to make a rapid recovery. When he retired shortly after the season, he came straight to HydroWorx, intending to assist the emerging enterprise. He became part-owner and a member of the sales team. McHugh would often say in those days, "what sports team wouldn't buy one of these amazing machines?" McHugh is Sr. Vice President today.

Exhaustive effort produced HydroWorx's first sale to Beverly Healthcare in 1998. Rob Miller, Administrator of a Beverly facility in South Bend, Indiana, was constructing a state-of-the-art rehabilitation wing and he requested a high-tech therapeutic pool as a focal point for the new facility. Miller's physical therapist introduced him to the HydroWorx concept and the first sale was consummated months later. After overseeing the construction and profitable launch of the new aquatic center, Miller joined HydroWorx as a part-owner and salesperson to the healthcare markets. Miller is a Sr. Vice President in the company today.

A Great Team Is Built

Since the first product was sold in 1998, the company has evolved from a handful of founders to a diversified business of elite engineers, designers, marketers and sales people based throughout the U.S. and Europe. In addition, HydroWorx boasts a world class group of steel craftsmen and mechanical and plumbing technicians, who build, install and service HydroWorx products in all 50 U.S. states and throughout the World.

Every day, over 15,000 athletes and patients use HydroWorx technology to recover from injuries and health conditions. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve them and we look forward serving you in the future.