Aquatic Physical Therapy

There are many benefits to receiving Aquatic Physical Therapy at the Cantrell Center.

Aquatic Physical Therapy involves the use of the buoyancy and/or resistance of water.  This aids in treating patients who might not normally benefit from land-based therapies.  Buoyancy 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

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.

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.

Beginning Aquatic Physical Therapy at the Cantrell Center

Your pool therapy program begins after your evaluation 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.

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