The workout routine for aquatic therapy, also known as pool therapy, is carried out in the water. It is a helpful type of therapy that is effective for a number of diseases. Through the use of aquatic treatment, patients can recuperate more quickly and do exercises more effectively.
Benefits:
The buoyancy that the water offers is one advantage of aquatic treatment. When submerged in water, buoyancy helps maintain the patient’s weight. As a result, there is less weight bearing, which lessens the tension on the joints. Patients with arthritis, those who are mending from broken bones, or those who are overweight can benefit most from this component of aquatic treatment. Exercises are simpler and less unpleasant to do when joint tension is reduced.
Water’s viscosity is a great source of resistance that is simple to add to a workout regimen for aquatic treatment. Without using weights, the muscles can be strengthened with this resistance. A person can build their muscles with less joint stress in the water by using resistance that they cannot encounter on land.
Hydrostatic pressure is another technique used in aquatic therapy to reduce edema and enhance awareness of joint position. Forces perpendicular to the surface of the body are created by the hydrostatic pressure. The patient is given joint positional awareness thanks to this pressure. Patient proprioception is enhanced as a result. This is crucial for people who have sprained joints because our proprioception is reduced when ligaments are damaged. Hydrostatic pressure also helps to lessen joint and soft tissue swelling brought on by accidents or arthritic conditions.
Lastly, while receiving aquatic therapy, the temperature of the water helps to relax muscles and vasodilate blood vessels, enhancing blood flow to wounded areas. This element of water therapy is particularly beneficial for patients with fibromyalgia, back pain, and muscular spasms.
Limitations:
Aquatic therapy has benefits, but it also has some drawbacks. First off, the improvements you experience while working out in the water might not translate into functional improvements on land. Due to the buoyancy that is created, walking in water may be simple, but once you leave the pool, walking on dry ground may still be challenging.
Although the overall outcome of pool therapy may fall short of the desired functional and strength gains, aquatic therapy can also just feel nice. When you engage in water treatment, you should be aware of the precise objectives you hope to accomplish.
Aquatic therapy is not appropriate for:
But it’s crucial to understand that not everyone benefits from aquatic treatment. Some persons with heart disease might not be able to engage in water therapy, depending on the individual. 2 A person who has a fever, an illness, or incontinence in their bowels or bladder is also ineligible for aquatic therapy. Before beginning an aquatic therapy course, always talk this over with your doctor.
If you are unable to swim, it goes without saying that you should not participate in pool therapy unless your physical therapist is aware of this and is able to give you 100% of the time’s worth of support.
In order to properly recover from an illness or injury that limits your functional mobility, you may benefit from the specialised services of a physical therapist. To fully regain your baseline mobility and resume your normal activity level, water treatment may be of value to you.
