Who should receive aquatic therapy?

Physical therapists have many tools and methods at their disposal to help patients recover from debilitating injuries and conditions. One of these tools is aquatic therapy.

Aquatic therapy is the practice of performing exercises, stretches and other motions in a pool under the guidance of a healthcare professional. People have been using water for soothing sore muscles and relaxation for centuries. Recently, physical therapists have been using it to help people grow stronger and more flexible in a safer environment.

Some of the many benefits of aquatic therapy include:

• Support from water to help people balance
• Cushioning from falls
• Natural pressure to help soothe sore muscles and joints
• Natural resistance to reduce the need for weights and other tools
• Water is naturally relaxing for people

Who can benefit from aquatic therapy?

Aquatic therapy can help improve the physical fitness of all kinds of people, especially those who have difficulty exercising without aquatic support. Here are a few kinds of conditions we commonly treat with aquatic therapy:

• Arthritis — Physical therapy for arthritis can help improve motion and reduce joint pain. However, the exercises and techniques involved can be quite challenging for people with arthritis. Aquatic therapy can help by providing an environment in which arthritis patients can move more easily with less pain.
• Back pain — Aquatic therapy helps reduce the stress on your muscles, bones and joints by reducing the load that your back has to bear. The buoyancy of the water helps you feel lighter to help you complete more exercises with less pain.
• Sprains — People with sprains, especially ankle sprains, are able to move sooner in water than they would be able to on land. This is great for people with sprained ankles who want to improve their gait and their recovery speed.
• Tendonitis — Stress from overuse can cause pain in one of your tendons. This kind of pain may be more easily treated in an aquatic environment due to the natural support and resistance found in water.

Contact Peak Performance Sports and Physical Therapy for aquatic therapy

The physical therapists at Peak Performance Sports and Physical Therapy strive to use all of the latest methods and technology for helping our patients improve their quality of life. We’re proud to offer aquatic therapy as one of our treatment options.

Would you like to talk to one of our team members about aquatic therapy? Contact us today to discover the benefits aquatic therapy may have for you.