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Does Aquatic Therapy Promote Recovery and Wellness?

If you seek an effective way to recover from an injury or prevent future ones, look no further than Aquatic Therapy. The Therapy Network in coastal Virginia offers Aquatic Therapy sessions that can be your ticket to improved well-being and an active lifestyle.

What is Aquatic Therapy?

Simply, it involves personalized, hands-on therapy techniques and specific body movements designed for water use. How do Aquatic Therapy exercises promote recovery and wellness?

Imagine exercising in an environment where gravity's effects are reduced, and joint strain is minimized. Water provides natural buoyancy, making recovery and wellness, with Aquatic Therapy an ideal choice for rehabilitation after an illness or injury.

Your Therapy Network therapist will use specially designed exercise equipment and aids like floats and balls to assist you during your sessions. Through targeted exercises and movements, you will experience the benefits of this low-impact yet highly efficient form of Therapy.

7 Benefits of Pool Exercise

Let’s take a closer look at the remarkable benefits of Aquatic Therapy and how it promotes recovery and wellness. Here are seven of the top benefits:

Lowers Fall Risk: If you are concerned about balance and coordination issues, Aquatic Therapy is a game-changer. In a safe and supportive aquatic environment, you will regain confidence and reduce the risk of falls by improving these skills.

Helps with Balance and Coordination: Whether recovering from an injury, dealing with a chronic condition, or simply looking to enhance performance, aquatic therapy can help improve your balance and coordination—the resistance provided by water challenges your muscles, enhancing your overall stability.

Reduced Stress on Joints and Bones: Water's buoyancy provides a unique advantage by alleviating stress on your joints and bones. The buoyancy makes Aquatic Exercise an excellent choice for individuals with arthritis, back pain, or orthopedic injuries. By reducing the strain on these areas, you can engage in rehabilitation exercises comfortably and with less pain.

Builds Muscle Strength and Endurance: Water is hundreds of times more resistive than air, making it ideal for building strength and endurance. Your Therapy Network therapist will guide you toward improved muscle tone through exercises.

Increases Aerobic Capacity: Water-based exercises elevate your heart rate and enhance your cardiovascular fitness. Aquatic Therapy offers an enjoyable and effective way to improve your aerobic capacity without placing excessive stress on your joints.

Improves Joint Flexibility: Aquatic Therapy can help you regain and improve flexibility if you struggle with limited joint mobility. The water's resistance enables you to move your joints through a greater range of motion, restoring joint function and reducing stiffness.

Reduces Swelling: Aquatic Therapy can effectively reduce swelling in injured or inflamed areas. The pressure exerted by the water helps to improve circulation, promoting healing.

As a bonus, can Aquatic Therapy help you lose weight? "Aquatics therapy is considered superior to traditional forms of physical exercise for individuals who are overweight and obese. When coupled with a new diet, aquatics therapy can help people lose weight safely and effectively.”—ClassicRehabilitation.com

Aquatic Therapy has significant benefits, but how else does it promote recovery and wellness? What conditions can benefit from Aquatic Therapy?

Conditions that Benefit from Aquatic Exercise

Now that you are familiar with the benefits of Aquatic Therapy, you may wonder which conditions can benefit from this physical therapy approach. Aquatic Physical Therapy has been successfully used to treat a wide variety of conditions, including:

Arthritis

Back Pain

Balance Disorder

Chronic Pain

Relief from Diabetes Symptoms

Fibromyalgia

Joint Pain

Multiple Sclerosis

Orthopedic or Sports Injuries

Post-Operative Conditions

Stroke

Tendinitis

With the list of benefits and conditions improved with Aquatic Therapeutic Exercise, we hope that we have answered the question, “Does aquatic therapy promote recovery and wellness?”

Aquatic Therapy at The Therapy Network

The Therapy Network is here to support you on your journey to recovery and optimal health. Our team of skilled physical therapists specializes in customizing your PT journey and will guide you every step of the way.

Optimal Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment: First Time Exercise Guidelines Highlight Physical Therapy as Key

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Physical Therapy

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation, pain, and joint damage. While antirheumatic drugs are the primary treatment for RA, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has recently released its first-ever guidelines recommending the integration of exercise, rehabilitation, diet, and additional integrative interventions into Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment. These guidelines emphasize the crucial role of physical therapists and occupational therapists in a multidisciplinary treatment team. This blog post will explore the key recommendations outlined in the guidelines and the importance of physical therapy in the management of RA.

Development of the Rheumatoid Arthritis and Physical Therapy Guidelines

The development of the guidelines involved a comprehensive process that included a systematic review of the research literature, input from a panel of patients with RA, and collaboration with experts in the field. A team of APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) members actively participated in the development of the guidelines, ensuring that the perspectives of physical therapists were incorporated.

PT Exercise Recommendations for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The guidelines strongly recommend consistent engagement in exercise as a part of Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment. The specific type, frequency, intensity, and duration of exercise should be tailored to each individual's needs and goals. While more research is needed to determine the most effective exercise approaches, physical therapists play a vital role in guiding patients in identifying the exercises and treatments that best suit their unique circumstances.

female physical therapist treating patient

The guidelines also provide conditional recommendations for aerobic, aquatic, resistance, and mind-body exercises, such as Tai Chi or yoga, over no exercise. These recommendations are supported by varying levels of evidence certainty, ranging from low to very low certainty.

Rehabilitation Recommendations

Participation in comprehensive physical therapy and occupational therapy is strongly recommended throughout the course of RA. Early referral to these therapies is encouraged to ensure that interventions can be tailored to each patient's specific needs. The guidelines also provide additional recommendations for hand therapy, splinting, orthoses, compression, bracing, joint protection techniques, activity pacing, assistive devices, and vocational rehabilitation.

Diet Recommendations

Based on available evidence, the guidelines conditionally recommend a Mediterranean-style diet for individuals with RA. However, they acknowledge that patient preferences, accessibility, and associated burdens may affect the ability to adhere to this diet. The guidelines also recommend following established dietary recommendations without relying on dietary supplements.

Additional Recommendations

The guidelines include recommendations for and against various interventions. Some of these recommendations include the use of standardized self-management programs, cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, and thermal modalities. They also advise against the use of electrotherapy and chiropractic therapy for individuals with RA.

The Role of Physical Therapy in RA Management

The guidelines highlight the significant role of physical therapy in the management of Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment. Physical therapists are crucial in guiding patients through exercise programs, rehabilitation interventions, and providing education on joint protection techniques. By integrating physical therapy into routine care, patients with RA can experience improved outcomes and a better quality of life.

Barriers to Implementation

While the guidelines represent an important step in incorporating physical therapy into RA care, several barriers to full implementation exist. These barriers include a lack of knowledge about the importance of exercise among rheumatology providers, limited awareness of the role of physical therapy among individuals with RA, varying levels of expertise among physical therapists in treating RA, payment policy challenges, and a need for further research in this area. Addressing these barriers is essential to ensure the successful implementation of the guidelines and to enhance the role of physical therapy in meeting the healthcare needs of adults with RA.

Conclusion

The release of the first-ever guidelines for exercise, rehabilitation, diet, and additional integrative interventions in the treatment of RA marks a significant milestone in RA management. These guidelines highlight the importance of physical therapy and occupational therapy as essential components of a multidisciplinary treatment team. By following the recommendations outlined in the guidelines, healthcare providers can optimize the care provided to individuals with RA, leading to improved outcomes and a better quality of life.

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Category Archives: Rheumatoid Arthritis