The Benefits Of Water For Exercise

By Deborah Holmes, PT

An article in the APTA magazine featured water as a well-tolerated form of exercise and an effective adjunct to land-based physical therapy. A growing number of physical therapists (PTs) are turning to aquatic physical therapy to treat patients with a variety of health conditions. Water therapy has been shown to help joint pain and stiffness, muscle spasms, back pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, lymphedema, systemic lupus erythematosus and much more.

Ease on the Joints

What makes water such a well-tolerated form of exercise and an effective adjunct to land-based physical therapy? It allows for non-weight-bearing or limited weight-bearing exercises, promotes relaxation, decreases muscle spasms, increases range of motion, improves circulation, increases the efficiency of the respiratory system and cardiac output.

Help For Wounded Warriors

The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, uses aquatic therapy to treat many of its military patients with injuries ranging from lower back or knee pain to postoperative total joints.

Aquatics For Athletes

In addition to helping patients with health conditions, aquatic therapy can help to extend the careers of athletes. Water reduces the risk of injury and provides security to the Athlete. The patients can lose their balance and know they aren't going to fall immediately and injure themselves.

Aquatics For Children

Aquatic therapy is beneficial for children as well. Children with such conditions as cerebral palsy, autism, and Down syndrome can benefit from aquatic therapy to enhance motor, sensory, cognitive, and social development skills.

Evolving Technology

New technology allows PTs to challenge a full range of individuals of all ages and all physical conditions from the sedentary and the elderly to high-level athletes. For example, therapeutic pools can be equipped with underwater treadmills or use hydro pressure to allow the PT to direct a flume of water while the patient is attempting to walk or run forward. Even patients who can't move themselves on dry land often bariatric patients or those with cerebral palsy often are able to walk on underwater treadmills with assistance.

There are constant advances in aquatic therapy. Water in its natural state is very therapeutic. The goal is to have an excellent option to help some patients improve faster and more completely in physical therapy. Your physical therapy clinic may not have an aquatic therapy program but may recommend going to water aerobics offered at your local pool or community center.