A majority of American have scant or no knowledge about aquatic therapy despite the treatment method boasting some incredible benefits. With the over 180,000 fitness clubs all over the globe, most of them offering aquatic therapy, it doesn’t make sense why many individuals show no interest or have no knowledge on aquatic therapy and how beneficial it could be.
This post will give you the low down on what exactly aquatic therapy is and will also highlight some key benefits of aqua therapy that most people probably don’t know.
What Is Aquatic Therapy?
Aquatic therapy is a physical rehabilitation technique that includes a variety of physical movements and stretching exercises done inside water. It is an extremely effective method of therapy that helps with multiple medical conditions, accelerates healing, and improves general well-being.
Benefits of Aquatic Therapy
1. Offers Resistance for More Effective Movements
Water offers great resistance to motion compared to exercising out in the open. Take the case of water polo or swimming, which are very energy-intensive exercises that burn a lot of calories in a short time because of water resistance. This resistance offered by water is great for toning muscles that have weakened or atrophied. The water resistance also helps reduce pain and prevent falling injuries because of buoyancy.
2. Makes it Easy for Your Personal trainer to Work with You
Unlike ordinary chiropractic treatments in the spa or gym, aquatic therapy doesn’t limit access of your trainer to other parts of the body. Aquatic therapy doesn’t happen on a table or flat surface but inside water where the chiropractor can move around your body and target the specific areas that need treatment. This ease of movement makes it more comfortable for both you and your personal trainer during your treatment.
3. Relaxes Your Muscles
Muscle soreness is the result of lactic acid build up in your blood vessels. Warm water helps improve blood circulation by causing the vessels to dilate. This dilation, which improves the blood flow, helps blood carry away the lactic acid and reduce its build up in the vessels, thus decreasing muscle soreness. You’ll then be able to perform the various physical movements with good form because your muscles will be relaxed and your soreness will have disappeared.
4. Hydrostatic Pressure
When water engulfs your body, it exerts pressure greater than that of air, since water is denser than the atmosphere. This pressure that water exerts on your body is called hydrostatic pressure and has very many benefits on the body. First, the increased pressure causes the lungs to work harder because of the extra pressure directed on the chest cavity, increasing blood flow across the body and air circulation in the lungs. Secondly, it helps relieve chronic muscles aches because the water acts as a full-body compression bandage.
5. Soothing and Relaxing
The gentle ripples of water as you move through it acts like a natural massager to soothe your entire body. The water molecules surrounding your body will help improve blood circulation, alleviate muscle tiredness and soreness and also feel good on your skin. You can even ask your trainer to use a paddle to direct gentle currents to specific parts of your body to work on the problem areas.
6. Fun, Exciting and Lighthearted
Unlike aerobics and other fitness classes, aquatic therapy sessions are more relaxed and light without rigorous physical exercises and constant sweating. This atmosphere makes aquatic therapy pretty fun and exciting, especially with the right trainer. You can increase the fun tenfold when you have your aquatic therapy sessions in groups. The whole session can culminate in a splashing competition or a swimming pool dance-off. This positive mood and cheerful atmosphere are great for the mental health and general well-being or recovering patients.
If you’ve never considered physical therapy, hopefully, you’re convinced to do otherwise. Remember, these benefits are just the tip of the iceberg, and there’s a lot more beneath the surface.
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