Aquatic Therapy: Leveraging the Power of Water

Aquatic therapy (also known as pool therapy) is a specialized form of physical therapy that takes advantage of water’s unique properties to promote healing and rehabilitation. By utilizing water’s natural buoyancy and resistance, aquatic therapy provides a safe and effective environment for our physical therapy professionals to improve patients’ physical function and overall well-being.

Advantages of Aquatic Therapy

One of the main advantages of aquatic therapy is its ability to reduce the impact on joints and muscles. The buoyancy of water allows individuals to move with less strain on their joints. This makes aquatic therapy particularly beneficial for patients with orthopedic conditions, like arthritis and joint pain. By minimizing stress on the joints, aquatic therapy programs enable patients to engage in exercises and movements that promote strength, flexibility, and range of motion.

The resistance provided by water is another key advantage of aquatic therapy. Moving through water requires more effort compared to moving through air, and water resistance can be adjusted to meet the specific needs and abilities of each individual. Aquatic therapy is suitable for a wide range of conditions, including neurological disorders, spinal cord injuries, and stroke rehabilitation. Through resistance exercises performed in water, individuals can improve their muscle tone, coordination, and more.

The warmth of water used in aquatic therapy is also therapeutic. Warm temperatures help to relax muscles, reduce pain, and improve circulation. This is highly valuable for individuals with chronic pain conditions. Warm water also promotes muscle relaxation and enhances blood flow, making stretching more effective, and delivering vital nutrients and oxygen to injured or healing tissues.

Aquatic therapy programs provided by our specialists at Move Empower provide a safe and supportive environment for patients with balance issues. The buoyancy of water offsets the fear of falling or injury, and provides a controlled environment for improving balance.

Finally, sensory stimulation is a unique advantage of aquatic therapy. The sensation and pressure of the water can have a calming effect on the nervous system, making it beneficial for patients looking to improve body awareness, sensory integration, and motor planning through various activities and exercises in the water.

At Move Empower, we’re committed to holistic treatments for individuals with a wide range of needs. Aquatic therapy is one treatment method we recommend when individuals need the support and stimulation of water – and want a treatment that can help them feel confident as they progress.

Contact our knowledgeable physical therapy team to learn more about our therapy solutions!