Aquatic Therapy
Aquatic Therapy is often overlooked as a treatment option for those suffering with significant pain. According to Lyndsy Morgan, a physical therapist at Doctors Hospital, “patients are able to do more in a pool than they are on land. The buoyancy of water decreases gravity and body weight, allowing those who cannot perform certain exercises on land to be able to do so in a pool.”The ability to exercise joints and muscles while bearing less weight on them in the pool provides the following benefits:
Improved flexibility and strength
Improved balance and coordination
Increased blood flow which reduces swelling
Improved endurance and lung capacity over time
Aquatic therapy is most beneficial for patients suffering from rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, patients who have undergone a joint replacement, or those suffering from other conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic pain syndrome, and back pain. According to Morgan, “most patients will report that their pain level decreases by at least half from the time they started. They learn techniques in the water that build strength, which carries over into everyday functional activities.”
To learn more about Doctors Hospital’s Aquatic Therapy program, please call 706.651.2270.
;){kind=link}