Aquatic physical therapy is an important part of rehabilitation for patients who have limited tolerance to land-based exercise programs. The buoyancy of the water coupled with the therapeutic effect of the heated pool, allows for a decrease of joint forces and an increase in muscle relaxation resulting in less pain and more mobility. As a result, the unique properties of an aquatic environment enhance treatments for patients with musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and integumentary (skin) diseases, disorders, or conditions.
Aquatic Therapy treatment helps to improve or maintain:
- Function
- Balance, coordination and agility
- Body mechanics and postural stabilization
- Flexibility
- Gait and locomotion
- Relaxation
- Muscle strength, power, and endurance
What Is Aquatic Physical Therapy?
Aquatic physical therapy is different than water aerobics, lap swim, or simply playing in the water. As diagnosis-specific treatment is carried out in the unique, nearly gravity-eliminated environment, physical therapists closely supervise patients receiving aquatic therapy . This is especially beneficial for certain types of orthopedic and neurological disorders. The pediatric population also sees immeasurable benefits from this type of treatment.
Water is denser than air and exerts more pressure on you as you move in it. This is because the water constantly adjusts its shape to accommodate your movements. The hydrostatic pressure of the water compresses your skin, muscles, and joints acting like a compression bandage for the entire body. This compression makes your heart and lungs work harder, improves your circulation, and relieves swelling and muscle aches.
Water resists your movements and causes you to exert more energy when performing exercises and activities in the pool. This resistance helps tone weak muscles faster by using more muscle fibers. The buoyancy of the water helps reduce pain by decreasing weight bearing and joint compression forces. Buoyancy also helps to keep you standing which minimizes your fear of falling, making balance exercises easier and less worrisome to perform.
While this form of physical therapy may be new to Warner Robins it is “old hat” to the Cantrell Center. Because we have understood the importance of this form of treatment for years, we built our junior Olympic heated indoor pool upon opening a new facility in 2004.
What to Expect During Treatment
Your pool therapy program begins after you have been examined by a physical therapist. Your physical therapist will incorporate comprehensive interventions to reduce pain while improving your range of motion, flexibility, strength, mobility, balance, endurance, and function. A physical therapy program that makes use of aquatic therapy may also be used in conjunction with land-based interventions to maximize your rehabilitative potential.
After completing your aquatic physical therapy treatment, you will have the opportunity to join our supervised aquatic wellness program. This provides you with a long-term aquatic exercise option that ensures you can maintain the goals you reached in therapy and continue to exercise in the water.
Aquatic Physical Therapy FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I have to know how to swim?
2. What if I’m afraid of the water?
3. What should I wear to my aquatic physical therapy session?
4. My doctor sent me for whirlpool, is that aquatic therapy?
5. What do I need to bring with me to my aquatic physical therapy sessions?
6. How do I go about becoming an aquatic therapy patient?
7. What if I’m incontinent?
8. Is this like water aerobics?
9. Where will I change clothes?
10. Will I be working with my therapist “one on one”?
1. Do I have to know how to swim?
It is not necessary to know how to swim in order to participate in aquatic physical therapy. The maximum depth of the pool is only four and a half feet. Think of it as a big bath tub.
2. What if I’m afraid of the water?
We have many patients who were afraid of the water before beginning aquatic physical therapy. We work very closely with them in shallower water until they become comfortable…and they all do.
3. What should I wear to my aquatic physical therapy session?
Many people wear bathing suits for aquatic physical therapy sessions, but any clothes that you don’t mind getting wet are okay with us. Some wear shorts and t-shirts just because they aren’t comfortable in a bathing suit… that’s okay.
4. My doctor sent me for whirlpool, is that aquatic therapy?
There is a difference between whirlpool and aquatic physical therapy. Typically, whirlpool is a passive modality for reduction of muscle spasm or, if sterile, for wound management. Aquatic physical therapy is a dynamic treatment plan in which the participant is engaged with the clinician in active participation for treatment.
5. What do I need to bring with me to my aquatic physical therapy sessions?
When you come for aquatic physical therapy, bring clothes for the pool, a change of clothes, water shoes (these are simply shoes to protect your feet from scuffing on the bottom of the pool and can be purchased at any variety store), and a towel.
6. How do I go about becoming an aquatic therapy patient?
To become an aquatic physical therapy patient, you will need a prescription for physical therapy from your doctor. The prescription does not necessarily have to say “aquatic physical therapy”. This decision is between you and your physical therapist. Many physicians do specifically prescribe aquatic physical therapy for their patients and that’s no problem. Keep in mind that the decision rests with you. Discuss it with your doctor and you both may agree that a physical therapy evaluation for aquatics may be in order.
7. What if I’m incontinent?
Special garments are available for those patients who are incontinent. Incontinence of bladder is manageable, however, bowel incontinence may limit you from using the pool. Speak to your therapist for more information.
8. Is this like water aerobics?
Aquatic physical therapy is different than water aerobics. Patients receiving aquatic therapy are closely supervised by their physical therapist as diagnosis-specific treatment is carried out in the unique, nearly gravity-eliminated environment. Water aerobics is a group-oriented activity offered by The Cantrell Wellness Center.
9. Where will I change clothes?
The Cantrell Center offers deluxe dressing facilities, private showers, and handicap accessibility.
10. Will I be working with my therapist “one on one”?
The typical arrangement for aquatic physical therapy is one on one interaction with your physical therapy clinician. There are some group opportunities available for those who have achieved a greater level of independence.
Aquatic Physical Therapy: What are you waiting for?
Do you have aches and pains or mobility problems? What is stopping you from trying aquatics physical therapy to help you improve your health? Aquatic physical therapy is one of the least painful and most enjoyable ways to improve your health. Don’t let any of these excuses stop you from getting better in the pool.
“It’s too cold.”
No it isn’t! Our pool is heated to 88 degrees on Tuesday and Thursday, which are our aquatic physical therapy days. We keep the air temperature warm with overhead infrared heaters. The pool is completely enclosed with doors and a roof that can open on warmer days.
“I’m afraid of the water.”
Many of our patients are uncomfortable in the water and afraid of drowning. At its deepest, our pool is only 4 ½ feet in depth and we have handrails running the length of each side of the pool. You can enter the pool via a ramp with rails on both sides or for those who need it, via a pool lift chair. You can hold onto the handrail while you are in the water. We also have someone stay by your side if you are uncomfortable.
“I don’t want anyone to see me in a bathing suit.”
Some people don’t like to wear bathing suits and we want you to be comfortable. You may wear shorts, long pants, a tee shirt, a bathing suit, or whatever you are comfortable wearing. We do ask that you wear some type of pool shoes such as water shoes, Crocs, sneakers, or something with secure straps to prevent falls on wet surfaces.
“I’m not sure you can help me with my problem.”
We can help you. Our therapists are highly qualified and enthusiastic. We have had great success in helping people with:
-Balance problems
-Mobility problems such as walking or getting out of a chair or bed
-Lower or upper back pain
-Knee or hip joint replacements
-Arthritis joint pain
-Fibromyalgia
So what are you waiting for? Ask your doctor to write a prescription for aquatic physical therapy. Then, simply call our office at (478) 953-3535 and we will take care of the rest. We look forward to helping you get better and hope to see you in the water soon.
About the Author
Lola Rosenbaum, DPT, has been with the Cantrell Center since July of 2003. With her extensive physical therapy experience and a husband formerly in the US Navy, she has worked in many different therapy settings from California to Georgia. This includes 4 years at the National Institutes of Health where her interest in research began. She received two awards for physical therapy research on tumors and hip replacements and a distinguished service award from the American Physical Therapy Association for volunteer work on the national level. Regardless of the awards and recognition, she explains that the best moments in physical therapy come when she’s working with her patients. She goes on to say, “Every little bit of progress we make toward achieving your goals and your smile of satisfaction is my reward. With the excellent staff of the Cantrell Center behind us, we can’t go wrong.”