Five Benefits of Aquatic Therapy
A gentler form of rehabilitation and exercise
Gravity works in one direction: down. We spend every minute of every day operating under the force of gravity, which, for the most part, is a good thing.
However, when it comes to our muscles and joints, sometimes relieving some of that gravitational force can be helpful in our attempt to repair tissues and build strength. Although less flashy than a voyage to outer space; a trip to your local community pool might be a more realistic and advantageous option.
Why water is ideal for rehabilitation
Water’s unique properties allow for an exercise or therapeutic experience that is distinct from land-based alternatives. Its warmth and the added support that water provides the body, makes it an ideal medium for therapeutic exercise.
What’s the best type of exercise for weight loss?
Water’s unique properties allow for an exercise or therapeutic experience that is distinct from land-based alternatives. Its warmth and the added support that water provides the body, makes it an ideal medium for therapeutic exercise.
Aquatic therapy includes exercises performed in water for relaxation, fitness, and physical rehabilitation. Treatment can involve a therapist and patient, and may include running, kicks, jumps, lunges and even dancing.
Here are just a few of the benefits that aquatic therapy has to offer:
1. Strengthens muscles and improves flexibility
The viscosity of water challenges muscles on both sides of moving joints and in all planes and movement directions. This helps build strength, coordination, and stability.
2. Has Less Impact on Joints
In water, the impact on your joints can be significantly reduced by adjusting the depth at which you’re exercising. What that means is the deeper your body is submerged, the less impact your body incurs. This allows you to gradually load the joints, thereby minimizing the chance of injuries associated with impact and joint strain.
3. Improves Balance
There is no resting position in water. Courtesy of the turbulence that is inherently present, your muscles have to work constantly to stabilize the body against unwanted movement. This can help build your core muscles and overall stability, which can help in the prevention of falls and improve overall coordination.
4. Increases Circulation
On land, gravity pulls blood towards our feet, meaning that the cardiovascular system has to work against it in order to return blood to the heart. Alternatively, in water, the minimal effects of gravity allow the heart to pump more efficiently and less frequently, decreasing cardiovascular stress and making blood more readily available for repairs and healing.
5. Provides Extra Support
One of the biggest advantages that water boasts is its naturally supportive environment. For a lot of people, especially those with injuries to their lower extremities, fear of falling can be a major deterrent to exercise. In water, if you do happen to stumble or fall, you might get your hair and face wet, but that’s about it. Water allows you to have small successes early-on, and build your confidence for land exercise.
“Water’s unique properties allow for an exercise or therapeutic experience that is distinct from land-based alternatives.”
What to expect if you try aquatic therapy?
At Tall Tree Health, you’ll fIrst have an initial assessment with one of our physiotherapists, after which a personalized pool program will be developed to meet your goals and work with your body.
The next visit will be in your local pool, where our aquatic exercise professional will guide you through a 60-minute session, either one-on-one, or with a group.
You’ll have access to a flexible aquatic therapy schedule, and you'll go home with handouts and the know-how to do some aquatic exercises on your own.
Another nice perk is that aquatic therapy supervised by a physiotherapist is covered by many extended health plans, while space travel is patently not.
Ryan Sanderson, Kinesiologist
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