Aquatic therapy is rehabilitation that is done in a heated pool of water. Individualized exercise programs are developed by physical therapists in conjunction with the patient’s physician and according to their personal needs. The benefits of aquatic therapy are immeasurable and particularly beneficial for people with certain conditions that are not able to comfortably or safely perform exercises on land.
Who is aquatic therapy best for?
Candidates for aquatic therapy can include people who are dealing with the following conditions:
- Arthritis
- Balance disorders
- Chronic pain
- Fibromyalgia
- General deconditioning due to illness or injury
- Idiopathic joint pain
- Joint reconstruction surgery recovery
- Joint replacement surgery recovery
- Lower back pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Orthopedic injuries
- Postoperative rehabilitation
- Preoperative rehabilitation
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Spinal cord injury
- Sprains and strains
- Stroke
- Tendonitis
- Traumatic brain injury
What are the benefits of aquatic therapy?
Patients who join an aquatic therapy program are able to exercise in an environment that stabilizes and supports the body, while reducing joint pain and muscle fatigue. The warm water of the pool relaxes muscles, increases circulation, reduces joint stiffness, and decreases pain. Hydrostatic pressure, or the force exerted on the immersed body by the water molecules, produces a “glove effect” to the surfaces of the body. Thus, this pressure stimulates receptors in the skin, providing the patient support and stability.
This, as a result, gives patients the confidence to move and exercise when fear of pain would otherwise inhibit motion. The buoyancy of the water reduces the effect of gravity, allowing for easier joint and muscle movement. Water’s viscosity also allows for muscle strengthening, as it creates a natural resistance while still reducing stress on joints.
Overall, aquatic therapy results in less pain for the patient, which ultimately leads to a higher quality of life. The aquatic therapy program at GreenField Health & Rehabilitation Center is offered in a full-sized pool, maintained at 94-96 degrees. Patients can also easily get in and out of the pool using the stairs with railings or chair lift. After developing an individualized rehab program, the physical and occupational therapists at GreenField Health & Rehabilitation Center get into the water with each patient to make sure the exercises are being done correctly.
To learn more about the aquatic therapy program and other physical therapy services at GreenField Health & Rehabilitation Center, please call (716) 684-3000.
About The GreenFields Continuing Care Community
The GreenFields Continuing Care Community provides for the physical, social, and spiritual needs of residents in a Christian environment. In addition to skilled nursing, subacute rehabilitation, and outpatient therapy at GreenField Health & Rehabilitation Center, The GreenFields offers a variety of living arrangements and support levels based on individual needs. This includes independent living apartments in GreenField Manor; assisted living apartments in GreenField Court; and memory care and enhanced assisted living in GreenField Terrace. Residents at The GreenFields also receive priority access to all other levels on The GreenFields campus.
