Physical therapy plays an important role in rehabilitation following several types of conditions and accidents ranging from a sports injury to more serious events like a stroke. Therapy can be performed in many ways both on land and in the water. When looking at water therapy, it's important to understand what benefits aquatic physical therapy can provide for your recuperating body.
Buoyancy
The natural buoyancy of water is one of the leading benefits of using water as a therapeutic medium. When your body is submerged in water, the buoyancy of water naturally supports part of your weight. In fact, if you are submerged up to your neck, as much as 90 percent of your body weight is supported. When submerged up to your waist, as much as 50 percent of your weight is supported, according to Dr. Andrew J. Cole from the University of Washington Medical School. Because water supports part of your body weight, less stress is placed on affected joints or injured areas, allowing you to exercise with less pain.
Hydrostatic Pressure
The natural hydrostatic pressure of water also benefits aquatic therapy by helping increase circulation in the body, according to the Shenandoah Medical Center. Hydrostatic pressure helps increase the efficiency of your circulatory system, which keeps blood moving and helps reduce swelling in the feet and legs. Less swelling results in an increased range of motion.
Water Resistance
Water resistance is one of the key elements in aquatic therapy. Water naturally provides resistance, which works the muscles as you move your body through the water. This allows those going through therapy to build strength in injured areas with little impact to injury sites. Water resistance is also unique in comparison to strength-training exercises on land because resistance is felt in all directions of movement in water, versus usually only one direction on land. How intense the resistance is on the body can be manipulated through using pieces of water equipment like floats or weights.
Heat
Water therapy is typically performed in a heated pool, which subjects the muscles to surrounding warmth. This can help relax tense muscle tissue, which helps increase range of motion. The warm temperature of the water may also help reduce stress or anxiety.
