What is Aquatic Physical Therapy? Aquatic Physical Therapy is a type of rehabilitation that uses water exercise to achieve physical therapy goals. It allows patients previously limited in attempts at land-based therapy to improve their strength, range of motion and general movement patterns so they may eventually return to more functional activities on land. Aquatic Physical Therapy sessions are led by a licensed Physical Therapist (PT) or Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA), under the direction of the PT People of all ages can benefit from exercising in the water with the correct guidance and program targeted to their individual needs.

The water is an ideal medium for exercise since its properties offer several benefits. There is no other method of exercising available that creates a zero impact environment that is found with aquatic exercise. The natural buoyancy experienced in a pool supports the body and decreases the effects of gravity, leading to a reduction in compressive forces and stress on the joints. This phenomenon allows for easier, safer, and more comfortable movement while in the water.

The amount of support offered for weight-bearing joints can vary depending on the depth one is submerged while exercising. Joint stress can be reduced by as much as 50% when exercising in chest deep water, for example. Therefore, one way to increase the intensity of an exercise is to simply have a patient perform the same exercise in shallower water. Conversely, if the exercise is too difficult to perform, the patient can be moved into slightly deeper water to decrease the intensity.

The position of the patient and direction of the movement can also alter the amount of assistance or resistance provided by the water. Movements directed toward the water’s surface are considered to be buoyancy-assisted exercises because the movement is being “helped along” by the buoyant properties of the water. Movements directed toward the bottom of the pool are known as buoyancy-resisted exercises because the movement is opposing the buoyant nature of the water. Finally, movements performed parallel to the bottom of the pool are considered to be buoyancy-supported activities because they are neither assisted nor resisted by buoyancy, but rather supported during the movement.

As the participants become more conditioned and stronger, aquatic exercise equipment, such as kickboards, aquatic dumbbells, ankle/wrist weights, and webbed gloves or shoes, can be introduced for more advanced strengthening techniques. This gear is used to provide greater resistance during movements. The therapist can a& create perturbations in the water to challenge all of the trunk stabilizing muscles to work to keep the patient balanced when exercising.

What are the Benefits of Aquatic Therapy?

A wide variety of people can benefit from aquatic therapy. It can be used to decrease muscle spasm and promote relaxation for those with neurological conditions, such as CVA (stroke), Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, or Cerebral Palsy. Decreasing pain for those with arthritic joints, healing fractures, and chronic pain conditions, such as Fibromyalgia, is another advantage to aquatic therapy. As previously mentioned, the water decreases joint compressive forces allowing greater ease of joint mobility and range of motion for many types of patients, including prenatal mothers, patients with post-surgical total hip or knee replacements, and those with orthopedic injuries. Aquatic Therapy is also a great way to improve muscular strength and endurance and cardiovascular conditioning at any level, from athletes to those with industrial or traumatic injuries. When exercising in the water all of the body’s muscles become engaged in the activities, producing increased circulation, coordination and balance.

How Do I Get Started?

Just as in land-based Physical Therapy, every patient is initially evaluated on land. If it is determined that aquatic therapy is the most suitable rehabilitation option for that patient, a referral from a physician is required before beginning the program. All aquatic exercise programs are matched to the needs of each patient, with the goal of progressing to land-based exercise, if possible. During treatment sessions, patients are educated as to benefits of each exercise, proper techniques, and ways to advance exercises. This will ensure that patients will continue to benefit from their program when resuming exercise independently after discharge. At St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center, aquatic exercise instruction is provided by a licensed Physical Therapist and class is conducted twice a week at the YMCA in Hamilton, NJ. The moral support received from fellow patients combined with gains made in strength, mobility, endurance, balance and coordination will translate into an overall improvement in one’s confidence and quality of life.