When Should You Opt For Water Physical Therapy?

When Should You Opt For Water Physical Therapy?

The medicinal properties of water have been advertised through Switzerland’s immersion tubs, Rome’s exotic baths, and Kerala’s very famous hot mineral water springs. Once we stepped into the 20th century, the use of water for physical therapy became persistent. In the year 1992, the APTA officially declared aquatic therapy an integral part of physical therapy and rehabilitation.

For people to visit water physical therapy near me, people first need to understand what, how, why, and when of water physical therapy. That’s all we’re going to talk about in this article. Read on.

What is water physical therapy?

 Also known as aquatic therapy, it’s simply defined as physical rehabilitation or therapy in water. Recovery, rehabilitation, and relaxation are the end result of this water-based therapeutic exercise or treatment. The thermal and mechanical properties of the water work together with movement. The beneficial properties of water physical therapy extend to people of every age group.

Occupational and physiotherapists carry out this treatment. They are exceptionally trained in water physical therapy or aquatic therapy. The process is usually carried out in a temperature-regulated and purpose-built therapeutic pool.

Here’s another instance that backs the authenticity of aquatic therapy. USA’s 32nd president, Roosevelt, was a polio survivor who went through several aquatic therapy sessions. It drastically improved his muscle strength and walking ability after poliomyelitis. Further, Christopher Reeves, who has earned a reputation for playing “Superman,” also underwent rehabilitation sessions. This was after a prominent spinal cord injury led to paralysis.

Given the miraculous benefits of aquatic therapy, several units of aquatic therapy Tucson have been set up. Starting from the general public to reputed celebrities, everybody is seeking this treatment that has become the talk of the town lately.

When should you opt for it?

The beneficial properties of this therapy are associated with the physical attributes of water. The buoyant medium counterbalances the gravity. When underwater, the original body weight is reduced by 1/10th. For instance, if your weight on land is 60 kgs, you’d weigh around 10 kgs when submerged to the chest in water. Hence, movement becomes easier.

Water is viscous nature-wise. It implies that during movement, the water resistance is higher than what it’s on land. In this way, resistance training becomes possible with relatively lesser joint impact. Natural forces of water might resist or assist movement. This promotes a smooth movement flow.

Here we discuss two cases and how they benefited from water physical therapy.

  • Issue: A lady 60 years old had a record of several gynecological issues and multiple surgeries. She struggled with severe balance issues and knee arthritis. Her condition worsened with the addition of obesity. Exercising was almost next to impossible for the lady due to the extreme pain and inconvenience that resulted from arthritis.

Outcome: She looked for water physical therapy near me and consulted a specialist. She was introduced to a safe way of exercising. Water offers great physical support. This kept her joints unloaded and allowed her hassle-free movement. The warm environment helped in muscle relaxation, pain reduction, and painless experience. Simultaneously, it helped her achieve her body goal, toned muscles, and overall well-being.

  • Issue: A pregnant lady aging 35 years was highly stressed. It resulted in severe health issues. Aquatic therapy, a gentle form of exercise, was recommended to her by her physician. She was treated using a water-based relaxation method called Clinical Watsu. It aimed at promoting free-flowing movements for relaxation. The treatment was combined with Ai Chi, another series of delicate exercise regimes.

Outcome: The lady in difficulty finally gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby through a safe delivery.

Several well-reputed organizations use aquatic therapy for athletic rehabilitation. When rightly implemented, it provides relaxation in between sessions. Plus, it’s also known for early plyometrics introduction and strength training after injuries. What makes it an appropriate method for post-injury treatment is the fact that intense exercises can still be carried out with lesser joint impact.

Children are mostly attracted to water with the intention of play and fun. Kids suffering from cerebral palsy, which refers to brain damage when born, can be treated with aquatic therapy. It’s an enjoyable and fun method of promoting movement in children having cerebral palsy.

Conclusion

This method of treatment comes with no attached side effects. It makes it a viable and safer option for people of all age groups. Apart from catering to the physical difficulties, aquatic therapy also reduces overall stress and almost exhibits similar properties to that of meditation. You needn’t think twice before taking up aquatic therapy Tucson. It is worth every penny!

Saguaro Aquatics aims at making you stronger in terms of posture and core, body and mind, lungs and heart, and stronger in society. We have a wide array of sessions to cater to the unique requirements of individuals. You can opt for intense group classes or one-to-one personalized therapy sessions. For further requirements regarding our unit, you can check out our website: https://www.saguaroaquatics.com/disabilities/ or reach out to us via mail at swim@saguaroaquatics.com or call us at (520) 638-8040.