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Aquatic therapy program
Aquatic therapy has many advantages. It increases mobility, muscle strength,
body awareness, relaxation and cardiovascular endurance, and improves
coordination, balance and respiration. It also decreases the frequency of muscle
spasms and pain.
Aquatic therapy is especially effective for patients after surgery or injury
because it allows for earlier weight-bearing activities, which lead to less pain
and a faster recovery.
Several properties of water are integral to the effectiveness of aquatic
therapy:
- Buoyancy A person submerged to the neck weighs 1/10th
of their regular body weight, allowing for increased mobility and reducing
joint stress
- Hydrostatic pressure This reduces the swelling of
joints and tissues, and is particularly important for minimizing the pain of
chronic joint or muscle conditions from recent injuries
- Water surface tension This creates resistance for
limbs partially submerged, allowing the patient to gradually strengthen weak
muscles
- Resistance Water increases resistance against
movement by 600 - 700 times that of air, increasing the potential for muscle
strengthening.
Experienced staff
Aquatic therapists are Physical and Occupational Therapists with special
post-degree training in the unique properties of aquatic therapy.
Individualized treatment
We provide care for patients with the following conditions:
-
 Sprains
- Pre-operative
- Strains
- Post-operative pain
- Contusions
- Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
- Tendonitis
- Proprioceptive deficits
- Bursitis
- Degenerative diseases
- Fractures
- Low endurance
- Arthritis
- Neurological conditions
Comprehensive care provided
Our therapists have advanced training in aquatics.
Aquatic therapists work 1-on-1 with clients to provide a rehabilitation
program individualized for:
Balance problems
- Multiple sclerosis To aid patients in maintaining and
possibly improving their strength and muscle control
- Post stroke care To help patients regain basic life
skills and lost function
- Prolonged immobilization To assist patients in
relearning balance and control after a prolonged period of inactivity or
immobilization
Post surgical rehabilitation
- Post hip fracture Allows patients to work on building and
strengthening techniques in a controlled weight environment
- Post knee injury surgery Reduces swelling and is ideal for working on
range of motion exercises
- Post shoulder surgery Provides resistance for building strength and
range of motion
- Post spine surgery Allows patients to build up to full weight-bearing
exercises by providing an environment where they experience only 10% of
their actual body weight
- Ankle surgery Allows pts to build up to full weight bearing exercises.
Reduces swelling and improves range of motion and strength
Fibromyalgia/arthritis
- Exercise program A controlled environment helps alleviate the
constant, chronic pain associated with this condition and encourages
activity to counter degeneration caused by inactivity
General deconditioning
- Assists patients in regaining strength in an environment where body
weight is minimized as gravity is countered by the persons buoyancy
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