Benefits of Aquatic Therapy By: Kait Miller, PTA

Have you ever wondered the benefits of Aquatic Therapy and if it would be beneficial to you? We see a wide variety of patients in our pool in all different recovery phases. The scope of patient diagnosis is everything from post surgical, non surgical, orthopedic, neurological, to chronic pain. You do not have to be a swimmer to participate in Aquatic therapy, the pool is nice and warm at 94 degrees with a depth of 4 feet. 

Some benefits of Aquatic Therapy are as followed:

1. Increase your muscle strength, the water is 600-700 times more resistive than air which 

aids in the process of strengthening weak muscles.

2. Increase joint flexibility, the buoyancy of the water decreases the effects of gravity. This 

allows for your affected body part to float which will increase the range of motion along with decreased pain.

3. Decrease overall pain levels by immersion of water allowing you to completely relax. 

Relaxation will increase blood flow which is a weight relief to affected body structures.

4. Improving balance by pressure around the body allows the patient to relax and not be 

fearful of falling or getting hurt.

5. Decrease in abnormal tone, spasticity and rigidity due to warm water which reduced 

increased tone due to neurologic injuries. 

Your Physical Therapist will customize every aquatic treatment to directly reflex on your injury. Therapist will also re-evaluate for proper progressions throughout therapy time. If you would like to continue with your aquatic program after your therapy session ends we offer a 6 week wellness program for a small fee. 

For further questions you can give our office a call at 814-324-0770.