While many individuals at one time or another have enjoyed floating or swimming in pools for fun, pools can play an important role in rehabilitation through the use of aquatic therapy.
Aquatic therapy is when physical therapy is provided in a pool under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional. At Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital, physical therapists provide aquatic therapy to help those recovering from disabilities caused by injuries, illnesses or chronic medical conditions.
Aquatic therapy allows our patients to use the resistance of water for strength training, while taking pressure off the body’s joints. This helps to increase range of motion and can make it easier and less painful to move. Warm water also can increase blood supply to sore or tight muscles, helping to relax them.
Baugh says the use of water in therapy has many advantages. It reduces the effects of gravity, so it’s often more comfortable for the patient because it provides weight relief. In addition, the affected part of the body can float, which can help to reduce pain. Buoyancy and the pressure of water also can help patients maintain their balance and reduce the risk of falling.
Consider this as well. Water is 600-700 times more resistant than air, so it’s a great way to strengthen weakened muscles in a comfortable environment.
Overall, Baugh says benefits of aquatic therapy can include:
Improved balance and coordination
Increased flexibility
Increase muscle strength and endurance
Improved gait
Decreased pain
It’s important to note that a person doesn’t have to be a swimmer to enjoy the benefits of aquatic therapy. This treatment can be advantageous to a wide variety of patients, including those with Parkinson’s, arthritis, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, strokes, chronic pain, back pain, neuromuscular diseases like Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and more.
At Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital, aquatic therapy is provided on an inpatient and outpatient basis. The aquatic therapy pool is four feet deep and includes an exercise bench, an electric lift and entry railings to help patients get in and out of the pool safely. Physical therapists work with patients, their families and the hospital’s interdisciplinary team to create individualized treatment plans to help patients recover to their fullest levels of independence and mobility. QCBN
By Jessica Baugh
To learn more about Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital’s aquatic therapy program, call 928-775-7783.
Dr. Jessica Baugh is an outpatient physical therapist at Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital.
Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital is a 44-bed, free-standing rehabilitation hospital that provides physical rehabilitation services to patients recovering from disabilities caused by injuries, illnesses, or chronic medical conditions. The hospital is consistently ranked in the Top 10 percent of inpatient rehabilitation facilities nationally and is certified by The Joint Commission in Stroke and Brain Injury.
For more information, visit MVRRH.ernesthealth.com.
3700 N. Windsong Drive • Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 • 928-758-8800 • www.mvrrh.ernesthealth.com
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