Dive into Aqua-therapy - A Refreshing Approach to Wellness

What Is Aqua-therapy?

Aqua-therapy, or pool therapy, comprises a set of exercises that can be performed in water.

These exercise programs performed in water have shown proven benefits for many individuals with underlying systemic diseases. Aqua-therapy utilizes the physical properties of water to help patients heal and perform exercises effectively. Aqua-therapy exercises are usually performed under the supervision of a physiotherapist certified in aqua-therapy exercises.

What Are the Goals of Aquatic Therapy?

The most common goals of water therapy programs are:

• To improve flexibility.

• Improvement in balance and coordination.

• Improves aerobic capacity.

• Improving muscular strength.

• For improvement in gait.

• For relieving stress.

• For body relaxation.

What Are the Benefits of Aqua-therapy?

Different benefits that can be utilized from the properties of water are:

• Benefits From Upthrust of Water: One of the most important benefits of water therapy exercises is upthrust or buoyancy (upward force exerted by water) provided by the water. An individual performing exercises submerged in water can utilize support from the buoyancy force which helps in minimizing the weight on the weight-bearing areas of the body (bones and joints). This reduced weight on joints helps patients with arthritis in the healing of fractured bones and joint pain. It is quite beneficial, especially for patients who are obese or overweight. The decrease in the weight on the joints helps the patients to perform exercises more efficiently and effectively.

• Benefits From Viscosity of Water: Viscosity of water plays an important role in performing aquatic exercises as a better source of resistance can be achieved from water. The resistance achieved from water can help patients in strengthening their muscles without holding any heavyweight as performed in gyms. The resistance of water decreases stress on joints which makes an individual perform exercises efficiently which is comparatively difficult to achieve on the ground.

• Benefits From Hydrostatic Pressure: Hydrostatic pressure is a pressure produced by the fluid due to gravitational forces. Hydrostatic pressure helps patients by reducing the swelling or inflammation of the muscles and joints. It also helps in improving the proper positioning of joints. Hydrostatic pressure acts perpendicular to the body surface which helps in the proper proprioception of the patient. Hydrostatic pressure mostly benefits patients with a long-term joint sprain, ligament injuries, and joint inflammation.

• Benefits From Water Temperature: Pool therapy, also known as aqua-therapy, offers the benefit of enhanced blood circulation throughout the body due to the warm water's vasodilation effect (widening of blood vessels). Vasodilation helps in improved blood flow to the injured areas of the body and initiates the healing process. Improved blood circulation also relaxes the muscles of the body thereby helping patients with muscle spasms, back pain, and musculoskeletal pain (fibromyalgia).

What Are the Clinical Conditions That Can Be Benefited From Aquatic Therapy?

Aquatic therapy can help in various clinical conditions, including:

• Arthritis (inflammation of bones and joints).

• Post-surgical recovery after (orthopedic) bone surgery.

• Autism.

• Balance disorders.

• Bursitis (Inflammation of fluid-filled sacs of the cushions of the joints).

• Cerebral palsy.

• Chronic pain.

• Depression.

• Lower back pain.

• Parkinson’s disease.

• Multiple sclerosis.

• Scoliosis (abnormal spine curvature).

• Inflammation of the tendons (tendonitis).

• TBI (traumatic brain injury).

• Muscle strain and sprain.

What Are Aquatic Therapy Safety Programs?

For safety precautions and to provide a safe environment for the individual, the following basic techniques are taught to the aquatic therapy practitioners:

• CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) techniques.

• Oxygen administration procedure.

• AED (automated external defibrillation).

• Training for providing first-aid.

• Risk awareness about blood-borne and water-borne pathogens and the disease associated with them.

What Are the Contraindications of Aqua-therapy?

Aqua-therapy is contraindicated in :

• High fever.

• Open wounds.

• Allergy to bromine or chlorine allergy.

• Hydrophobia (individuals having fear of water).

• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

• Hepatitis A patients.

• In pregnant females.

• A person with cognitive impairment or under medication for it.

How to Prepare Patients for Aquatic Therapy?

A few instructions given by the trained and certified aquatic therapy trainer to the participants are:

• Explain to the participants each exercise briefly and the timings for each session before starting.

• Ask the participants to bring their personal belongings like a towel, cover-up, swimming suits, drinking water, and shoes.

• If the participant is a child, parents are asked to participate alongside them.

What Are the Different Aquatic Therapy Exercises?

Aquatic therapy physical exercises are segregated into four parts:

• Warm-Up: Exercise starts at a slower pace. Mild jogging, brief walking, and stretching exercises are done to warm up the muscles.

• Strength Training: After the warm-up exercises, participants are taught to perform some cardio exercises like running, sprint exercises, and multi-planar activities.

• Core-Training: Core training is given after strength and fitness training. Core training includes squats for 20 to 30 minutes, leg swings, arm swings, shoulder presses, and other core training exercises.

• Cooling Down: Using pool therapy with deep tissue massage helps to relax the muscles and prevent lactic acid build-up.

What Types of Equipment Are Utilized in Exercises for Aquatic Therapy?

Different pieces of equipment used by the physiotherapist trained in aquatic exercises are:

• Hydro-workx Underwater Treadmill: The use of an underwater treadmill benefits the patients in different ways:

1. It helps the patient in early mobilization.

2. Improves the body's stamina.

3. Enhances cardiac activity and improves cardiac function.

4. Helps in muscle strengthening.

5. Reducing blood pressure.

6. Reduce joint stiffness.

Different types of hydro-workx underwater treadmills available are Hydroworx 2000, Hydroworx 3500, and Hydroworx 1200.

• Cold Water Plunge Pools: It is used for fast muscle recovery in athletes. Warm water produced by plunge pools helps to relax the muscles. Different types of plunge pools available are classic plunge pools, rejuvenated plunge pools, and transportable plunge pools.

Conclusion

Aqua-therapy or hydrotherapy provides a safe and challenging atmosphere for the rehabilitation of patients with different systemic illnesses. Aqua-therapy programs have proven to be essential for various neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and Hutchinson's disease, according to the research. Aquatic therapy exercises benefit the patients by improving various underlying symptoms. However, further research is needed for identifying or customizing specific sets of exercises and their frequency for each specific type of systemic condition.