Aquatic PT

Aquatic Physical Therapy is used mainly on paraplegics, quadriplegics, and elders. It can, however, be used on any type of patient, for example the purpose is to give the patient full range of motion or more of a range of motion than they normally have on land, which is common in the water. So if you have a patient with a knee problem that doesn’t have full range of motion on land he/she may need aquatic therapy and have the session in the water. Most aquatic patients are combined patients; they have half land sessions and half water sessions. There are very few of these systems in Massachusetts. I have found this part out through research for places to shadow, however I got the above information in an email from an organization located in Pennsylvania. I had emailed the organization asking for more information and they got back to me by the time I got home from school.
Aquatic Physical Therapy: is physical therapy that involves performing exercises in the water. Aquatic therapy is especially beneficial for people who have difficulty with weight bearing activities. Exercising in the water provides several benefits that exercise on land can not. To learn more about aquatic therapy, take a look at this review.
Aquatic physical therapy is a unique service available at Delnor-Community’s Health & Wellness Center, and is one of the few facilities in the area offering a complete program of care. Aquatic physical therapy has proven to be a more successful form of rehabilitation for individuals suffering with arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, joint replacement and other conditions associated with aging, as well as the inability to tolerate other therapy.
Skilled therapists provide this service in specially-designed and equipped warm water therapy and lap pools. Here patients of all ages can be treated for musculoskeletal pain and neurological disorders.
Special aquatic therapy classes are available to manage arthritis, multiple sclerosis, pediatric neuromuscular conditions and fibromyalgia as well as problems related to the lower back, legs, neck and shoulders.
Ai chi (water ai chi) classes offer mild aquatic exercises and relaxation. Prenatal and postnatal classes also are offered for new mothers and mothers-to-be.
Aquatic physical therapy is defined as physical exercises in a swimming pool. Designed to help patients regain freedom of movement, it can dramatically reduce, and even eliminate pain. The combination of simple exercises and heated pool water has a safe, therapeutic effect on the body, in many ways unmatched by other means.
The natural buoyancy of water offers support for the body by diminishing the effects of gravity. As a result, it reduces stress on joints and muscles, while providing moderate compression for improved circulation to promote healing and improved muscle tone.
Patients with neck and back pain, including most sports-related injuries, often benefit from aquatic therapy as well as those experiencing severe weakness as a result of injury or surgery. Additionally, the pool’s heat helps soothe the pain associated with injuries or discomforts.
Patients recovering from muscular or skeletal injuries can control the intensity of their therapy by increasing or decreasing the amount of water resistance while performing their aquatic exercises. Often the physical therapist will recommend weights and flotation devices to help speed recuperation. Kick boards, tube floatations and “noodles” are frequently used. At each of Bethesda’s facilities, programs are tailored to the individual's needs by a licensed physical therapist trained in aquatic physical therapy. Gradually, the aquatic exercises move to a land-based program to assure complete recovery. Treatment Sessions Can Help the Following:
Improve circulation
Improve strength and endurance
Increase range of motion
Improve balance and coordination
Normalize muscle tone
Protect joints during exercise
Reduce stress
Decrease swelling
Problems that Can Be Treated with Aquatic Therapy:
Athletic injuries
Arthritis
Chronic Pain
Fibromyalgia
Joint replacements
Limited weight bearing
Neck and back pain
Neurological disorders
and more
Why Aquatic Therapy?
Aquatic therapy offers an alternative form of rehabilitation and can be used in conjunction with more traditional outpatient therapies.
The pool is an excellent medium in which to rehabilitate those with neurological and musculoskeletal problems. It provides an opportunity for people to exercise and gain strength while affording them a comfortable environment where they can re-initiate limb and body movement.
The buoyancy of the water facilitates mobility and assists with exercise. Its properties of decreasing impact while promoting movement allow a variety of individuals to benefit from this program. Coordination and aerobic activities can also be performed in the pool. And, water equipment can assist with resistance exercise for strengthening.
Who Can Participate?
Individuals with a variety of disabilities and orthopaedic conditions can participate in aquatic therapy. People with back problems, knee injuries, ankle injuries, strokes, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, and those who have had orthopaedic surgeries are just a few of the individuals who can benefit from aquatic therapy.
Careful screening and program development by a physical therapist will assure safe participation. Though aquatic therapy is not recommended for certain medical conditions, the vast majority of people can participate. Swimming experience is not necessary.