Aquatic Therapy

Aquatic therapy is an excellent way to rehabilitate any injury. The unique physical properties of water provide an ideal healing environment for therapy. The buoyancy of water reduces the effect of gravity, allowing you to exercise in more comfort and achieve your rehabilitation goals more quickly by minimizing pain that can sometimes be felt in your joints during exercise.

Aquatic physical therapy uses the properties of water to improve strength, range of motion, flexibility, pain, ability to walk and overall function using paddles, floats, or weights increases the intensity of the exercises. Exercising in water helps your body heal by reducing inflammation and swelling – especially in the ankles and knees – and increases circulation in muscle groups. Water also provides some resistance to movement, which makes exercises challenging while helping to build your muscle tone and strength.

Benefits of Treatment

• Pain reduction: buoyancy is used to offset painful joints

• Balance training: Viscosity (thickness of water) is used to train balance

• Increase blood flow: warm water will improve blood flow to muscles resulting in improved flexibility and decreased pain.

• Increase muscle strength: resistance of the water is used to build muscle strength and endurance

A skilled physical therapist will provide a detailed evaluation in the clinic to assess if aquatic therapy will be beneficial for you and your goals.