Physical therapy techniques used in the water often involve a physical therapist or assistant. The exercises are used for treatment of physical disorders, rehabilitation and general health and wellness, according to the American Physical Therapy Association. The exercises can be done alone in a pool or with the use of supportive devices, depending on the severity of the physical problem. The aquatic environment provides a person with buoyancy and support while performing water exercises. The techniques can help improve function, endurance, balance, coordination, flexibility, relaxation and muscle strength.
Water Walking
Walking backward and forward in a pool helps the leg muscles without putting pressure on the knees or hips. It is a good therapeutic exercise for people with arthritis in those areas. Sometimes light weights can be strapped on the hands or legs to increase the power movements and build strength.
Leg Stretches
Participants place their hands on the wall of the pool with their body and legs stretched out in the water. This is good for the joints in the back and the stretching of the shoulder muscles, according to Spine-Health. Leg raise exercises are usually done with one hand holding onto the side of the pool. One leg is stretched out and the other leg is slightly bent. As the leg is raised it strengthens the leg, hip and lower back muscles. The exercise is done several times with each leg.
Knee Exercises
People can hold one hand on the side of the pool and raise their knee to the chest, alternating between each leg. This helps with stretching of the lower back, buttocks and thighs without using a lot of energy because it is performed in water.
Paddling
The legs and arms can be stretched and strengthened by people who paddle with the arms and legs while floating on their backs. They usually wear a flotation jacket, or a therapist is sometime used to support the person's trunk during paddling.
Tai Chi Style
Water exercises using tai chi and other types of martial arts work well in the water for physical therapy. Tai chi is usually performed at home or in a center where participants use slow, bodily movements that often include standing on one leg or focusing attention on a part of the body to improve balance. Similar techniques can be used in the water to enhance stretching abilities. One such technique, ai chi ne, uses the stretching exercises along with breathing exercise to improve muscle and joint tension and stretching flexibility, according to the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability.
