When is aquatic therapy the best choice?

Water therapy (Aquatic therapy) can be a very effective tool to improve many conditions related to joint pain, back pain , balance deficits and loss of strength and mobility. For years Physical therapists have utilized water therapy to speed patient recovery for conditions ranging from the early days of polio victims to current day high performance athletes who are rehabilitating from torn or injured tissues in their knees ,hips and spine.

The three primary principles inherent with the use of water therapy that help to maximize recovery are : 1. Decreased  pressure on your joints and spine through buoyancy of the water   2. The ability to adjust resistance or assistance of an activity via the 3 -Dimensional pressure resistance of water itself and 3. The temperature of pool which can be raised or lowered to stimulate muscles or relax muscles to maximize pain relief allowing increased activity ad function.

Multiple scientific studies have proven the efficacy and benefits of using water to improve joint mobility, strength, function , endurance and relieve pain in patients referred to physical therapy. 

If you are in pain, have touble moving your joints or need to strengthen your muscles but can't tolerate typical gym or land exercises, water therapy may very well be an answer for you to achieve these goals. 

Achieve Physical Therapy and the MyhometownPT  group has a Physical Therapist near you that can offer an evaluation to help determine if water therapy is right for you.