Aquatic Therapy: Scientific Foundations and Clinical Rehabilitation Applications

Abstract

The aquatic environment has broad rehabilitative potential, extending from the treatment of acute injuries through health maintenance in the face of chronic diseases, yet it remains an underused modality. There is an extensive research base supporting aquatic therapy, both within the basic science literature and clinical literature. This article describes the many physiologic changes that occur during immersion as applied to a range of common rehabilitative issues and problems. Because of its wide margin of therapeutic safety and clinical adaptability, aquatic therapy is a very useful tool in the rehabilitative toolbox. Through a better understanding of the applied physiology, the practitioner may structure appropriate therapeutic programs for a diverse patient population.

Non-Conventional Pain Management for Sickle Cell Disease

“…It is beneficial in the management of patients with musculoskeletal problems, neuropathic and pain problems. In addition, the margin of therapeutic safety is wider than that of almost any other treatment milieu [65]. Warm water facilitates muscle relaxation and increases peripheral circulation and stimulates body awareness, balance, and trunk stability; the reduction of gravitational forces results in decreased pain sensitivity.…”

Composición Corporal y Somatotipo de Mujeres de Entre 16 a 18 Años: Efecto de un Programa Acuático-Aeróbico en el Mejoramiento de la Fuerza Muscular

“…El entrenamiento acuático tiene un amplio potencial la promoción y prevención de la salud en todas las personas, sin embargo sigue siendo una modalidad poco utilizada (Pöyhönen et al;Tsourlou et al, 2006;Becker). Los estudios realizados en población chilena permiten apoyar los objetivos sanitarios planteados en la "Estrategia Nacional de Salud", para la década 2011-2020, de aumentar en un 30% la práctica de la actividad física en adolescentes y jóvenes chilenos (Minsal).…”

“…Además de los beneficios a nivel orgánico, también consi-gue ventajas psicológicas (mejora de la autoestima, el auto concepto, etc. ), consolidando en forma más efectiva hábitos estables hacia la práctica de la actividad física (World Health Organization, 2004;Becker, 2009).…”

Brief Review of Beneficial Properties of Aquatic Exercise

“…Heat transfer is 25 times more efficient in water than air which will help suppress pain the athlete is complaining off and lead to the patient performing there remedial exercise [11], participants found it more easily perform muscle exercises first in an aquatic environment before moving to land based rehabilitation. This research suggesting that the therapeutic pool is a safe environment for the exercise due to the reduction of pain threshold being suppressed in water [12]. With the pain cycle being suppressed remedial exercise can then be performed which can then ultimately lead to rehabilitation transferring to the terrestrial environment.…”