Aquatic therapy-- also known as water therapy or hydrotherapy -- provides a supportive physical environment for exercise. For obese children, it offers a workout option that will encourage them to be active but not place stress on their bodies. Get your child involved in an aquatic therapy class at your community pool or private gym to promote lifelong, healthy living. Start with a basic swimming and safety class if your child is new to the pool, and check with your pediatrician to ensure that this will be safe for your child.
Low-Impact
Obesity places strain on the joints and spine. If your child already suffers from joint pain, muscle aches or decreased mobility, aquatic therapy offers exercise that does not place greater impact on the body. The sense of weightlessness in water can help to encourage your child to engage in an active life.
Aerobic Exercise
Aquatic therapy includes exercises that take advantage of the water's resistance to build strength and aerobic activity. Attempting to remain upright with your feet touching the pool bottom or holding a pose requires strong core muscles and an ability to adapt to the moving water created by other class participants. The body's natural buoyancy also adds a challenge to overcome when standing in a pool. Practicing these basics will provide your child with early achievements in strengthening muscles and learning how to coordinate complex movements in water. Aerobic exercise can reduce systemic fat, improve the efficiency of the cardiovascular system and increase energy levels over the long term.
Self-Esteem
A child who is obese may suffer taunts from other children, which creates a hostile environment in which to learn and play. Achievement builds self-esteem, and making waves in the pool, becoming active and feeling better physically can give your child an emotional boost as well. Aquatic therapy, when done in groups, can provide your child with a social environment of mixed ages and abilities, and create awareness of body diversity and acceptance. Positive experiences in the pool can lead to greater ambitions elsewhere. Your child may develop better posture and presentation, which can invite friendships with peers outside of therapy.
Support
As the parent of an obese child, support your child's achievements both in and out of the pool. Understand that obesity will not necessarily be reversed with exercise, because it may be a genetic, glandular or environmentally caused trait. Discuss your child's progress with your pediatrician, chart her progress together, and look for signs of improvement that do not hinge on weight, such as improved energy levels, increased desire for daily activity and a sense of accomplishment. Support your child's exercise by providing water instead of sugary drinks -- including juice or sports drinks -- to keep her hydrated, and nourish muscle growth with whole foods that include vegetables, protein and fiber on a daily basis.
References
- "BMC Pediatric"; Aerobic exercise in adolescents with obesity . . .; Dr. Peter Klijn, et al; July; 2007
- The Guardian: The wonders of water therapy
- Spine Health: Water Therapy Exercise Program
- "Pediatric Physical Therapy"; The Effect of Aquatic Therapy on Infants and Toddlers in Early Intervention; B. M. McManus and M. Kotelchuck; December 2007
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