What is Aquatic Therapy?

Aquatic therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy that involves performing range of motion, strengthening and balance exercises in water. The natural floating reduces gravitational pull and lessens squeezing forces, making exercises much easier to perform than on land.

The scope of patient diagnoses treated in our pool is surprisingly vast, encompassing everything from post-surgical, non-surgical, orthopedic, rheumatologic, and neurological to chronic pain. Water can improve motion and flexibility. The warmth of the water (94°F) and its massaging effects allow muscles to relax while helping to reduce pain. Best of all, aquatic therapy can be used even if a patient does not know how to swim.

Benefits of Aquatic Therapy

• Warm water facilitates muscle relaxation and increases peripheral circulation.
• Viscosity of water provides resistance for strength training. Water is 600-700 times more resistive than air which allows for strengthening of weakened muscles. Water resists rapid movement so equipment with increased surface area is used to increase strength in the pool.
• Warm water stimulates body awareness, balance, and trunk stability. The uniform pressure of the water along with buoyancy provides support to your body which allows you increased time to react without the fear of falling or getting hurt.
• The reduction of gravitational forces in the pool allows the patient to stand and begin gait training and strengthening exercises without causing further damage to healing structures.
• Warm water and buoyancy results in decreased pain sensitivity.
• Decrease in abnormal tone, spasticity, and rigidity. Water temperatures above 92 degrees in conjunction with hands on techniques are effective in creating neutral warmth that reduces increased tone due to a neurological injury.
• Improvement of patient morale and confidence can be established by providing a positive medium in which to function.

Your aquatic therapist will customize and train you in an aquatic exercise that is appropriate to your level. If you wish to continue your aquatic exercise program after therapy ends or if insurance no longer authorizes therapy, you can transition to La Vita fitness center for an additional fee.

A referral to physical therapy is all you need for a highly trained and profession physical therapist to evaluate your current condition and determine if aquatic therapy may be a beneficial component of your personalized treatment plan.

For more information about aquatic therapy at Divine Savior Healthcare contact Divine Savior Rehab Services at 608-745-6290.