Aquatic Physical Therapy

Aquatic physical therapy at Longfellow Holistic Health Center located in Wayland offers a supportive environment in which to address your physical therapy goals. Exercise in water has powerful benefits. The aquatic environment eliminates the joint compression found on land. This makes it more comfortable to move painful joints. The water makes it safer to practice balance strategies with less risk of falling. If you have had surgery, it is also a protective environment in which to test new milestones such as resuming running and jumping with less impact.

What happens in an Aquatic Physical Therapy session?

Aquatic physical therapy sessions at LHHC are all one-on-one and custom-designed to meet your functional goals. You will be offered equipment for buoyancy, such as a belt or barbells. You will be guided through warm-up activities, then offered a set of exercises or activities consistent with the goals established between you and your PT at your initial evaluation.  The program may be high-intensity and sport-specific or very gentle based upon what is appropriate for your needs. Specialized equipment is offered for assistance, resistance or challenge. 

Who is Aquatic Physical Therapy for? 

Aquatic physical therapy offers an evidence-based means to rehabilitate an injury or reduce pain. Aquatic PT might be the right option for you if you have difficulty walking or risk of falling due to pain, deconditioning or disease. It can make it possible to walk or move more comfortably by reducing weight and resistance to the water. It’s unique features can make it easier than land to also achieve full-body exercise and cardiovascular benefits without the need to get on and off the floor.

Aquatic therapy can be combined with traditional, land-based physical therapies to offer a multifaceted treatment. As an alternative or safe complement to traditional land-based therapy, aquatic therapy continues its popularity. This is suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Water’s soothing qualities appeal to people looking for a treatment that can heal the body and increase rehabilitation times, improve fitness levels, and reduce stress.

Aquatic physical therapy can also be used alternately with  land-based therapy or a means of progression. Moving from water to land with movement can enable your PT at LHHC to gradually add resistance and weight-bearing as you get stronger and movement becomes pain-free. 

Aquatic physical therapy can be an appropriate choice for all ages and abilities and most diagnoses. People with active infection, chemical or temperature sensitivities, poor head or core control or fear of the water, among other problems should discuss with their physical therapist whether aquatic PT is indicated.

What are the Benefits of Aquatic Physical Therapy?

Water provides a unique medium in which to exercise. Aquatic exercise has been studied to provide many physiological benefits beyond that of land-based exercise. Evidence supports comparable benefits in cardiovascular, muscular, metabolic responses between exercise in water versus land.

Properties of added viscosity, extra buoyancy and hydrostatic pressure offered by water have been proven to help support the weight of your limbs and decrease inflammation making movement more comfortable and free of compression created by gravity and weight-bearing. In addition, the turbulence, drag and viscosity of water also provide a variety of means to offer resistance and challenge when appropriate.