The benefits of Aqua Therapy in rehabilitation

Academy of Aquatic Physical Therapy defines aqua therapy as “practicing physical therapy in water.” Aqua therapy usually takes place in a pool or an aquatic therapy room. Aqua therapy needs hydrotherapy pieces of equipment to make it effective like:

• Whirlpools
• Water current therapy pools
• Plunge pools
• Aqua bikes
• Underwater treadmills

 

Physio and sports therapists use aqua therapy to help different types of patients with medical conditions for rehabilitation purposes. In addition, athletes use it for their training or therapy programs as well.

This article will discuss water therapy, its benefits and uses for rehabilitation purposes, and injury treatments.

What are water-based therapies?

Therapies that use water as a therapeutic exercise medium and pools as safe environments to perform exercises are considered waster-based therapies. Water is used in these therapies because of its low impact on physiological loads compared to the land.

Here is a list of water-based therapies:

 

Aqua therapy

Aquatherapy involves the use of mechanical and thermal properties in the water, combined with movements in addition to the effects of movement.

 

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is simply the act of completely immersing yourself in water.

 

Water therapy

A water therapy treatment involves using water directly as a medium. For example, water is usually used in ice baths, contrast baths, or whirlpools.

 

What is buoyancy?

A primary upward force in aqua therapy is buoyancy. This is because all objects are dragged downward by gravity. However, gravity counteracts the buoyant force in the water, allowing the motion to go to the water’s surface and take it away from the surface.

 

Aquatic Therapy rehabilitation benefits

Besides that good feeling you get when you go under the water, aquatic therapy has different benefits as a part of a rehabilitation process:

 

Less pressure

The buoyancy force decreases the weight pressing down on your body by

• 90% when you are neck-deep in the water.
• 50% when you are in the water down to your waist.

Therefore, buoyancy decreases the pressure on your joints and spine. This is helpful after surgeries and during rehab because your body is healing, and you need to reduce the weight on your surgical site.

 

Reduced swelling

Swelling needs to be reduced in order to recover strength and range of motion, and the pressure of the water helps to move fluid out of the injured area back into the body.

 

Decreased pain

Water can decrease the pain because it slows down your movements during your rehabilitation. Warm water also can decrease muscle spasms.

 

Ease of movement

As already mentioned, Water is used in aqua therapy rehabilitation as a medium. Since water supports and assists movement, It makes aqua therapy safe and pain-free and allows you to focus on regaining strength and motion.

 

Faster progress

Physical exercises are sometimes too difficult to do on land or in the gym, significantly when injured. Aqua therapy allows you to perform Aerobic conditioning and sports activities earlier than on land. For example, aqua running has less impact on your joints and produces excellent cardiovascular results.

 

Aqua Therapy is fun

During your recovery process, the changing environment of the water can provide you with challenges and motivation.

 

Improve the healing process and recovery time

Water constantly creates a force that pushes back on you while you are in it. This is referred to as hydrostatic pressure. This is extremely beneficial in promoting enhanced circulation and reducing edema to aid healing. This, in turn, can reduce joint discomfort, enhance the range of motion, and shorten recovery time. Furthermore, while recuperating from an injury that prevents you from fully weight-bearing on a joint, training in water allows you to focus on strength, range of motion, and gait while lowering or removing body weight forces quicker than you may be able to accomplish on dry land.

 

Increase muscular strength and endurance

The viscosity of the water and the drag forces generated as we travel through it serve to build our muscles and enhance our exercise tolerance so that we can finish everyday tasks. Furthermore, water exercise helps boost aerobic capacity and respiratory function for improved health. In addition, paddles, weights, aqua gloves, and noodles can be utilized in the pool to improve strength.

 

Enhance your coordination and balance

Our body continuously responds to the force and motion of the water around us when we are in it. This enhances our response time, muscle strength, and sensory awareness, enhancing our balance and coordination of mobility. The sensation of comfort and relaxation provided by the water around us can also reduce our fear of falling. As a result, exercises that appear difficult on land may suddenly be doable in the water.

 

Improve your gait

Water may be a terrific setting to stimulate mobility securely and efficiently for someone who is unable to completely bear weight on land, finds it too uncomfortable, or is afraid of falling. In addition, hydrostatic pressure reduces weight-bearing forces, which can help reduce discomfort.

 

Injuries that benefit from Aqua Therapy

physio and sports therapists love aqua therapy because it uses buoyancy force and decreases the pain on joints. This makes aqua therapy perfect for orthopedic and neurological conditions/ injuries since water can ease and speed the rehabilitation process. Here is a list of different injuries and conditions that aqua therapy helps:

Upper Limb

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Bursitis
• Chronic pain
• Rotator cuff
• Tendinopathy
• Shoulder impingement
• Sprains

 

Lower Limb

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Bursitis
• Chronic pain
• ACL reconstruction
• PCL reconstruction
• Achilles tendon
• Rupture

 

Trunk

• Lower Back Pain
• Spinal Cord Damage
• Spinal degeneration

 

Neurological Conditions

• Balance disorder
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Multiple sclerosis
• Stroke
• Cerebral Palsy

 

What are the challenges of Aqua Therapy?

Cost

Although aqua therapy rehabilitation is helpful, it is not cost-efficient, so it is not for everyone. Aqua therapy needs a pool and different expensive pieces of equipment.

 

Constant monitoring

You cannot do aqua therapy alone. The presence of a qualified trainer or therapist is necessary. These therapists must be trained in aquatic safety and aqua therapy procedures. In addition, because many patients have problems stabilizing, their therapists must be alert all the time.

 

Water temperature

A high water temperature causes overheating, especially when patients spend too much time in the pool. However, a low water temperature causes patients to shive or even have muscle cramps.

 

Drowning

The constant risk of drowning endangers the patients who are not familiar with the aqua therapy rehabilitation process.

 

Aquatic Therapy near me in Las Vegas

We discussed aqua therapy rehabilitation and its incredible benefits when it comes to injury treatments. If you need Aquatic Therapy in Las Vegas, Health & Care Professional Network is at your service. We have been providing in-home care services in Las Vegas for 15+ years. We provide a safe place for you to treat your injuries with the constant presence of our aqua therapists and professionals.

Give us a call at (702) 871-9917 for more information.

You can get information about other Home Health services.