Spinecare Topics
Water Therapy and The Spine
What is Water Therapy?
Water therapy refers to exercising in the water. Water therapy is not just swimming, but refers to any from of exercise in the water. Water has been used as a medium for healing and therapy for centuries. In the past, mineral pools were places elite citizens would go to get pampered and treated for their ailments. The pools today are used for different types of water therapy. The terms water therapy and hydrotherapy both refer to recreation and the implementation of therapeutic exercise in a fluid environment. Water provides buoyancy, thereby rendering the body lighter in the water. This provides an opportunity for individuals to perform movements that may otherwise be difficult or impossible to perform on land secondary to pain.
Where Can Water Therapy Be Performed?
Water therapy can be performed in a heated pool at the local gym, a YMCA or in the privacy of one’s own pool or bathtub. Water therapy may also be provided in a medical facility such as an outpatient rehabilitation center on within a hospital setting.
What are the General Benefits of Water Therapy?
Water is a unique environment where effects of gravity are minimized and buoyancy allows for greater capacity to exercise for those in pain. The water around the body including the extremities provides resistance to movement in all directions, unlike exercise machines that provide resistance in limited planes of movement. Water can be used to resist movements at different intensities, all of which is under an individual’s control. Movements in the water can be performed at any pace an individual can tolerate.
The water environment allows for non-weight bearing and partial weight-bearing exercise. Exercises that are performed in the upright position promote postural awareness and help develop postural control. Water therapy usually involves the use of the entire body, not just the injured part, thereby providing a more comprehensive approach. Water therapy is also a great way to condition and train for general health or a particular sporting activity.
What are the Benefits of Warm Water Therapy?
Exercising in warm water offers several benefits that include relaxation of sore muscles, increased blood flow and greater enjoyment of the exercise session.
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