Swimming pools can be more than just a recreational place of activity. You can exercise in the water to help rehabilitate an injured knee. Physical therapy programs for knees are designed to return you to pain-free mobility while providing the added benefits of strength and cardiovascular training.
Buoyancy
The amount of weight that presses down on your knees is reduced when you are in the water. The Aquatic Exercise Association says that when you exercise in water up to your neck, you lessen your body's weight by 90 percent. If the water level is up to your chest, you lessen the amount of weight felt on your knees by approximately 65 to 75 percent. You will carry 50 percent of your weight in waist-deep water. This environment allows you to perform strengthening exercises for your knees such as squats and lunges without overstressing the joint.
Circulation
Improved circulation to your knees can speed healing and reduce inflammation. The hydrostatic pressure of water allows oxygen to move freely into your bloodstream. The compression of water makes it easier for blood to travel to and from your knees, as blood does not have to fight gravity when it returns to the heart. Since inflammation can reduce knee movement, lowering your inflammation may allow you to perform movements in the water that would be difficult when you are on land.
Cardiovascular Benefits
Water physical therapy for knees may include cardiovascular exercises such as walking and stair climbing. Water walking helps to re-establish proper gait when recovering from a knee injury. Walking also increases your heart and breathing rates, which strengthens your cardiovascular system. Water walking is a way to burn calories and aid in weight loss, which helps reduce the pressure on your knees.
Flexibility
Your doctor may suggest range-of-motion exercises during your knee rehabilitation. You may find it easier to stretch in the water than on land. Your leg floats in the water, so you do not have to use muscles to move into a stretch. This allows you to relax, and when you are relaxed, you can sink deeper into a stretch. In the water, since gravity is not pressing down on your knees and this reduces the weight of your leg, your knee can rotate through a greater range of motion without pain.
