AQUATIC PHYSICAL THERAPY

 

Aquatic physical therapy combines the well-known benefits of physical therapy with the physical properties of water.  By taking advantage of a temperature controlled, gravity eliminated environment the therapist can utilize the combined effects of immersion, buoyancy, and viscosity to expedite patient rehabilitation and often advance patients to new levels of functioning.

PROGRAM SPECIFICS

Each patient referred to our program receives a land based physical therapy evaluation to determine the patient’s functional limitations.  Goals are determined according to the problems identified, and an individualized plan is developed to reach the goals set forth by patient and therapist.  Therapeutic procedures may include:  therapeutic exercise, strengthening, conditioning, postural re-education, neutralization/stabilization, gait training, balance stimulation, and pain management all in an aquatic environment.

 

The physical properties of water augment the above therapeutic procedures by reducing weight bearing through painful joints, buoyancy assisted movement for the weak patient, and viscosity resisted movement for strengthening the advanced patient.  The warm water envelops the patient improving sensory input, which can improve proprioception and body awareness.  Movement and exercise appear easier in water and post-exercise soreness is reduced, improving patient participation and compliance.

 

Aquatic physical therapy can offer superior benefits to your patient population in the following diagnosis groups:

 

Spinal Patients
  • Buoyancy decreases spinal compression forces allowing for pain reduction.
  • Immersion facilitates increased muscular blood flow and tone reduction to decrease muscular spasm and post-exercise soreness.
  • Hydrostatic pressure increases body awareness for increased postural awareness.
  • Deep water exercise allows for pain free or pain decreased full body conditioning.

 

Neurological Patients
  • Buoyancy and viscosity work together to provide balance stimulation.
  • Therapists have increased time to elicit righting reactions.
  • Buoyancy assists movement in decreased tone/flaccid extremities.
  • Viscosity resists movement for strengthening.
  • Warm water immersion decreases hypertonicity and assists normalization of tone/movement patterns.

 

 
General Orthopedics

Osteoporosis, generalized weakness, total knee replacement, total hip replacement, open reduction internal fixation of the hip.

  • Aquatic PT is the ultimate choice when pain/weight bearing status limits function.
  • Buoyancy decreases weight bearing through painful/post operative joints.

waist level immersion = 50% weight bearing

chest level immersion = 25 – 35 % weight bearing

neck level immersion = 10% weight bearing

  • Early gait training without assistive device and facilitation of normalized gait pattern.
  • Buoyancy assisted movement for weak/painful joints.
  • Viscosity resisted movement for strengthening.
  • Warm water immersion for pain management.

 

As you can see aquatic physical therapy is an appropriate intervention for many different diagnoses.  Frequently, Aquatic PT can be used as an adjunct to clinic PT & OT to address pain and to speed the rehab process.  Therefore, your patients can benefit from Aquatic PT alone or this intervention can be part of a multidisciplinary approach.