Aquatic Therapy

Orthopedic conditions, medical conditions, and neurological disorders may reduce the ability to bear weight on your legs, tolerate the impact exercise on land, or move against the forces of gravity. Aquatic therapy is a rehabilitation option that allows people to exercise in a water environment. The water provides support, buoyancy, and gentle resistance during exercise. Aquatic therapy is helpful for people with many types of orthopedic conditions; neurological disorders that affect movement such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury; or medical conditions that affect joint or muscle integrity, such as arthritis, amputation, muscle spasms, chronic pain, post-polio syndrome, pregnancy, and post-mastectomy.

Your aquatic therapist will evaluate your baseline strength, limitations, and functional skill level and also assess your muscle movements, coordination, balance, and endurance. You should tell your aquatic therapist about any concerns or difficulties that you have. The evaluation and your input are used to formulate a customized treatment plan that includes specific short term and long term goals. Aquatic therapy may be provided in one-on-one.

You will learn specific exercises to target your affected areas. You may gain strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, and range of motion. With the reduction of gravity in the pool, you may find that you can perform movements that you cannot do on land. Your aquatic therapy program will be upgraded as you progress in treatment. Prior to participating in aquatic therapy, you will need a prescription and medical release to do so from your physician. Some people may not be candidates for aquatic therapy because of specific contradictions, such as open wounds. Most people find aquatic therapy to be beneficial and enjoyable. However, aquatic therapy rehabilitation is not considered a treatment for weight reduction because it is not an excellent source of aerobic exercise.

 

What Does Therapy Include?

Aquatic Therapy is an excellent supplement to land-based physical and occupational therapy, providing one-on-one treatment sessions. It uses safe and efficient methods to achieve your child's individualized short-term goals. The water offers a gentle resistance, which increases strength and enhances sensory feedback and learning. In addition, the water supports muscles while children work on balance and posture. The therapists utilize aquatic and land-based techniques, including myofascial release, neuro-developmental treatment, sensory motor integration, and functional motor skills. Aquatic Therapy is an effective way to address many types of conditions including sensory, neurological, and orthopedic problems.

 

Objectives

• Attention span & sensory motor integration

• Blood supply to muscles

• Children Who May Benefit

• Children who need orthopedic or post-operative therapy.

• Children with abnormal muscle tone, muscle weakness, poor postural control, decreased endurance, and limited mobility.

• Children working to develop higher-level motor skills such as breath control, balance, coordination, and gait.

• Circulation

• Head & trunk control

• Improved joint mobility

• Increased muscle flexibility

• Respiratory rate

• Symmetry, strength, and endurance 

• The psychological benefits include improved self-esteem, confidence, and motivation

• Children with neurological and/or sensory motor problems.

 

The Progressive Pediatric aquatic therapists are licensed therapists who specialize in aquatic pediatric therapy. They have attended aquatic therapy courses, in-services, and workshops. They have received certificates in Water Safety and CPR. All the therapists continue to update their aquatic therapy knowledge on an ongoing basis.

In David Hoyos Swim School believes in the basic tenet of inclusion that all people regardless of disability should have the same opportunities and involvement in the community as their "typically developing" peers. As such, we embrace the diversity of everyone's abilities by serving all.

David Hoyos Swim School offers a special swim program that is designed to provide an educational and therapeutic environment for children with special needs. We continually train our instructors to work with special needs children. While our lessons may appear simplistic and fun are in reality carefully orchestrated and tailored to each child's special needs and abilities.