What is Aquatic Therapy?
Physical therapy is an important part of recovery after an injury or surgical treatment. However, for some people, especially those with joint conditions, broken bones, or who struggle with mobility, recovery on land is particularly challenging. Aquatic therapy at JAG Physical Therapy offers an alternative form of physical therapy that takes place in the water, using the buoyancy of the water to gently support the body and aid in patients’ recovery and conditioning.
How Does Aquatic Therapy Work?
Water’s natural buoyancy is key to aquatic therapy. It helps to support the patient’s body and balance as they perform therapeutic exercises. Some of the exercises resemble traditional physical therapy, such as stretches and rotations, while others are unique to the water. Depending on the patient’s comfort level, and their goals, they may be fully or partially submerged in the water or even float with the aid of a flotation device.
What are the Benefits of Aquatic Therapy?
Aquatic therapy is a great alternative when performing physical therapy exercises on land is difficult or even dangerous. For some of our patients, traditional weight-bearing exercises can aggravate existing issues, causing increased pain and inflammation. For others, aquatic therapy simply provides a safer, more comfortable, and even fun physical therapy session.
Water’s natural buoyancy supports the body, taking weight and stress off of the joints, muscles, and bones. Even high-impact, dynamic exercises become much more gentle in the water.
Aquatic therapy has been shown to improve a patient’s balance and coordination. This is important for both performing physical therapy exercises safely, but also for day-to-day wellness, reducing the risk of falls and corresponding injuries.
Water’s resistant properties benefit those looking to improve their athletic fitness and condition their body, even beyond injury recovery. Water also helps patients to engage a wider range of motion, increasing their flexibility over the long term.
Even in shallow water, hydrostatic pressure of water provides gentle compression to improve circulation, relieve pain, and increase lung capacity.
In some cases, choosing aquatic therapy allows a patient to begin rehabilitation sooner than would otherwise be possible, advancing the timeline for recovery.
Common Conditions Treated with Aquatic Therapy
Aquatic therapy can benefit individuals suffering from a number of conditions, including:
- Arthritis
- Back Pain and Injury
- Balance Disorders
- Bursitis
- Cerebral Palsy
- Fibromyalgia
- Joint Issues
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neurological Disorders
- Orthopedic Injuries
- Osteoporosis
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Sports Injuries
- Sprains
- Stroke
JAG Physical Therapy Offers Aquatic Therapy at the Following Locations:
Ready to dive in? Find a JAG PT location near you or schedule an appointment today to embark on your journey towards improved health. For more information or to get answers to any questions, reach out to our team today.