About this topic
Water therapy is a kind of therapy where you do exercises in a pool. The water is most often warm and may or may not have jets to give a more forceful spray of water. Most often, you do not need to know how to swim to do water therapy. This is done in the shallow area of a pool and your head stays above water. Water therapy may be helpful for many health problems like: ‚
- Arthritis
- Pain
- Limited movement in your back, kips, knees, ankles, or feet
- Stroke
- Muscle or joint problems
- Fibromyalgia
- Low back pain
- Cerebral palsy
- Obesity
General
Before starting with a program, ask your doctor if you are healthy enough to do these exercises. Your doctor may have you work with a trainer or physical therapist to make a safe exercise program to meet your needs. ‚
Your therapist will evaluate you before you start your water therapy. Together you will come up with a plan. When you are in the pool, the therapist may have you sit, stand, or move in different ways. You may use tools like foam weights, tubes, or boards to give more resistance. Your therapist will be close by in case you have any problem. ‚
Some people are not able to do water therapy. Talk with your doctor if you have: ‚
- An open sore
- A problem with incontinence or leaking of urine or stool
- Seizures
- A contagious illness like hepatitis
- A tracheotomy
What will the results be?
- Less stress on joints
- Resistance without the use of weights
- Relax tight muscles
- More blood flow and flexibility
- Less pain and swelling
- Help with balance
Will there be any other care needed?
You may also need to have regular therapy along with your water therapy. Talk to your doctor or therapist to make a plan. ‚
Helpful tips
- You may want to wear water shoes or old tennis shoes to protect your feet. They may also keep you from slipping in the pool.
- Bring a plastic bottle of water while you are doing water therapy. You need to drink extra water, just as if you were exercising out of the water.
Where can I learn more?
American Physical Therapy Association ‚
http://www.aquaticpt.org/about-aquatic-physical-therapy.cfm ‚
Arthritis Foundation ‚
http://www.arthritistoday.org/about-arthritis/arthritis-pain/pain-relief/warm-water-therapy.php ‚
My Child at Cerebral Palsy.org ‚
http://cerebralpalsy.org/about-cerebral-palsy/therapies/aquatic-therapy/ ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚