Is Aquatic Therapy Useful?
Sunday December 21, 2008
Many people enjoy the calming effect of the water on tight and sore muscles. The question is often asked though if exercising in the pool is beneficial. In my opinion aquatic therapy has many pros. Learn more about aquatic rehabilitation and decide for yourself.
Comments
I had a minimally invasive discectomy procedure in Aug-08 to remove 3 large disc fragments that had crushed my L5 nerve, and then a “re-do” in Oct-08 because an MRI showed what looked like a remaining fragment that may have been the cause for sustained drop-foot on my right side. There was no addt’l fragment, and I still have the drop foot, though I THINK it’s improving very slowly - which is normal. ANYWAY - I’ve had about 4 months of 3x wkly physical therapy, with one of those being aquatic therapy. Like all PT, aquatic therapy is only as god as the effort the patient puts into it. In that regard, I can say that I’ve had pool sessions that were every bit as tough and strenuous as land sessions. The benefits of the pool sessions are that balance is easier, and since weight is partially displaced, some of the exercises are easier, allowing for a greater range of motion. All in all, having been there & done that, it’s my opinion that aquatic therapy is most definitely beneficial, and should absolutely be used in your PT regimen, as long as your insurance covers the treatment.