Have you noticed gravity seems to make your daily tasks and exercise routines more and more difficult? Did you know that most painful conditions can be effectively dealt with in aquatic physical therapy? At Iberia Sports & Rehab in New Iberia, LA, our team of therapists uses the healing properties of water to help our patients get relief, improve their function, and get back to doing what they love!
Staying active as we get older can be challenging to say the least. Stiff, achy joints that don’t work as well as they used to can make it hard to keep doing your everyday activities. Aquatic physical therapy is an excellent solution for aging adults with pain or injuries or just seeking to exercise regularly.
The natural properties of water are helpful for rehabilitating most musculoskeletal disorders, all while reducing the strain on joints. At our Iberia Sports & Rehab clinic, our physical therapists can guide you through an aquatic exercise program to help you alleviate your pain while improving your overall health and well-being fitness!
Call Iberia Sports & Rehab in New Iberia, LA today to request an appointment to see if aquatic therapy is right for you!
How can aquatic therapy at Iberia Sports & Rehab help your condition?
Aquatic therapy, or pool therapy, is a form of physical therapy that uses the benefits of water as part of a therapeutic intervention. Your therapist will use the water’s natural properties to create an exercise program that safely challenges you without provoking your pain.
Buoyancy helps alleviate the pain associated with arthritis by providing a gentle decompression of the joints. Buoyancy also helps to support the body and reduce the impact of gravity while performing exercises. The deeper you stand, the more water supports your body, making it easy for our therapists to adjust the intensity of your exercises.
By altering the depth our patients work in, we can modify the effects on your joints. For example, when the water is at chest level, the results of gravity are reduced. Only 20% of your weight is supported by your spine when you’re in chest-deep water.
Hydrostatic pressure, inherent in water, helps inflammation in your body related to an injury or recent surgery. This pressure helps to improve circulation and lymphatic drainage to ensure your body is functioning at its best for healing and quick recovery.
Water has a unique property whereby our therapists can progress a movement or exercise by increasing movement speed. The faster you move, the more resistance water gives you. We can also use paddles, gloves, and noodles to increase the intensity of our movements. It is also possible to adjust currents or create turbulence in water to make it more challenging to perform while simultaneously remaining safe without risking losing your balance and falling.
Aquatic therapy can help treat the following conditions:
- Arthritis and other joint pains
- Muscle weaknesses
- Balance and gait challenges
- Cardiovascular disease
- Neurological disorders like a stroke or Parkinson’s disease
The benefits of aquatic therapy make it an effective way to implement therapeutic exercises for aging adults to improve their function and help them restore an active lifestyle!
What to expect at your aquatic physical therapy visits
Your initial physical therapy assessment will take place on land. Your therapist will start with a comprehensive evaluation and a movement assessment to identify all the factors contributing to your condition. Your therapist will determine your treatment goals and plan of care, including follow-up sessions in the water.
We will develop an individualized aquatic therapy program that includes targeted mobility work, pain relief techniques, strengthening, and other appropriate water-based techniques. Water’s natural properties set the stage for a therapeutic environment and a successful outcome for your rehab.
Aquatic therapy provides a safe, comfortable, and therapeutic alternative to gain strength and reduce pain for patients who have difficulty exercising on land. If you don’t know how to swim, our physical therapists will get in the water to assist you and keep you safe!
Request an appointment today!
Contact Iberia Sports & Rehab in New Iberia, LA today if you suffer from aches and pains related to aging and want to learn more about aquatic therapy. Our aquatic therapy programs can help you find a pain-free way to exercise!
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6314737/
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0269215519880955
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3820233/
- https://journals.lww.com/ajpmr/fulltext/2018/02000/Aquatic_Exercises_in_the_Treatment_of_Low_Back.7.aspx
Tags: Aquatic Therapy, Physical Therapy, chronic pain, healthy lifestyle, Aches & Pains, health and wellness, physical health
