Aquatic Therapy

Aquatic Therapy has many advantages. It increases mobility, muscle strength, body awareness, relaxation and cardiovascular endurance, and improves coordination, balance and respiration. It also decreases the frequency of muscle spasms and pain.

Aquatic Therapy is especially effective for patients after surgery or injury because it allows for earlier weight-bearing activities which lead to less pain and a faster recovery.

Several properties of water are integral to the effectiveness of Aquatic Therapy:

• Buoyancy – A person submerged to the neck weighs 1/10th of their regular body weight, allowing for increased mobility and reducing joint stress
• Hydrostatic pressure – This reduces the swelling of joints and tissues, and is particularly important for minimizing the pain of chronic joint or muscle conditions from recent injuries
• Water surface tension – This creates resistance for limbs partially submerged, allowing the patient to gradually strengthen weak muscles
• Resistance – Water increases resistance against movement by 600 - 700 times that of air, increasing the potential for muscle strengthening.

Experienced Staff

Aquatic therapists are Physical and Occupational Therapists with special post-degree training in the unique properties of Aquatic Therapy.

Individualized Treatment

We provide care for patients with the following conditions: 

• Sprains
• Pre-operative 
• Strains
• Post-operative pain
• Contusions
• Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
• Tendonitis
• Proprioceptive deficits
• Bursitis
• Degenerative diseases
• Fractures
• Low endurance
• Arthritis
• Neurological conditions

Comprehensive Care Provided

Aquatic Therapists work one-on-one with clients to provide a rehabilitation program individualized for:

Balance Problems

• Multiple sclerosis – To aid patients in maintaining and possibly improving their strength and muscle control
• Post brain attack (stroke) care – To help patients regain basic life skills and lost function
• Prolonged immobilization – To assist patients in relearning balance and control after a prolonged period of inactivity or immobilization

Post Surgical Rehabilitation

• Post hip fracture – Allows patients to work on building and strengthening techniques in a controlled weight environment
• Post knee injury surgery – Reduces swelling and is ideal for working on range of motion exercises
• Post shoulder surgery – Provides resistance for building strength and range of motion
• Post spine surgery – Allows patients to build up to full weight-bearing exercises by providing an environment where they experience only 10% of their actual body weight

Fibromyalgia and Arthritis

Exercise program – A controlled environment helps alleviate the constant, chronic pain associated with this condition and encourages activity to counter degeneration caused by inactivity

General Deconditioning

Assists patients in regaining strength in an environment where body weight is minimized as gravity is countered by the person’s buoyancy.

To Learn More

For more information, please call Outpatient Rehabilitation Services at (574) 523-3242.