Aquatic Therapy
The benefits of an aquatic therapy program include pain reduction, increased flexibility and range of motion, improved strength, increased endurance and energy as well as improved balance. Patients who could benefit from this therapy include those suffering from back pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, orthopedic conditions/surgeries, pain or other disabilities which limit the ability to exercise on land. Aquatic Therapy differs from exercise on land in several ways. Water has buoyancy, which is the force acting in the opposite direction of gravity. Gravity makes you feel heavy, were as, buoyancy makes you feel light. The more immersed you are in the water, the lighter you will feel. The compressive forces placed on your joints will also be decreased, up to 50% for waist deep water, 70% for chest deep water and 90% for neck deep water. This property is why people with arthritis, back pain or any other joint pain will experience immediate pain reduction once in water.
Aquatic Therapy can assist or resist a particular movement depending on the direction of that movement. For example, hip flexion, or marching in standings is buoyancy assisted, were as, hip flexion on your tummy is buoyancy resisted. Hip flexion on your side is neither assisted nor resisted-buoyancy supports the movement.
Turbulence is movement through water that can act as a form of resistance by increasing the speed of the movement. If you stand still against this turbulence, you will improve your body core strength. Turbulence also creates a streamlined flow which is the continuous steady movement of fluid. Walking in the same direction of this streamline flow will be easier-walking against it will make it more difficult. As one improves in strength and endurance, the aquatic therapy program can be made more difficult by adding paddles and flotation devices which add more resistance to the exercises.
At Eberle's Physical Therapy, Inc., we have a 10 by 15 foot therapeutic pool which is heated to 95 degrees. It has a shallow end as well as a deep end to accommodate weight bearing and non-weight bearing activities. We also have a Hoyer Lift which can be used for patient who are unable to climb stairs.