What exactly is Aquatic Therapy?

Phil Cordova – MSPT

Aquatic Therapy is something that we recommend often for patients that have a difficulty completing traditional physical therapy regimens because they have recently had a surgery or have a pre-existing condition.

Aquatic Therapy exercises have a lighter intensity over a longer duration allowing a patient that is exhausted by land-based to complete their course of recommended therapy.

“Our patients enjoy a gravity-eliminated environment with the comforts of an indoor warmed pool. They gain strength and mobility during aquatic therapy, which translates to improved capacity in achieving their daily activities in the community.” – Phil Cordova MSPT

We often suggest the pool because some therapy is better than no therapy at all and it’s a great way to get patients started. In the very beginning a new patient can be weaker and feel debilitated or even exhausted. If a doctor hasn’t recommended aquatic therapy we suggest it because the patient can get benefits of buoyancy which aid in completing their exercises.

We find that most patients are surprised by Aquatic Therapy: it isn’t just wading. It involves its own specific movements that take advantage of the resistance provided by water. Patients find themselves working intensely but enjoying the experience and the results.

What Aquatic Therapy is NOT!

A small percentage of patients have fears of water but these are misplaced: there is NO SWIMMING INVOLVED! You will NEVER be doing laps in the pool. It is a very safe, supportive environment with constant supervision and support including life guards. A majority of these patients find that their fears were misplaced.

The GOOD NEWS about Aquatic Therapy!

Aquatic Therapy is a series of prescribed exercises in a gravity eliminated environment, a swimming pool. The mobility and strength you gain by doing the exercises against the resistance and with the support provided by water transfer to your life outside of the pool.

If you’re just starting out after surgery and not yet confident in doing exercise in general, in the pool you will gain your strength and confidence back.

Aquatic Therapy can be considered a stepping stone or a smart first step to getting your mobility, confidence and strength back. It can be very encouraging. We believe that if you give it an honest try that you’ll be pleasantly surprised. We see many, many patients who think that they “can’t do it” try it and see real improvements. Feeling incapacitation in the beginning can be very unmotivating. Aquatic Therapy can help solve this.

If you are a doctors or attorney’s office and have questions about aquatic therapy feel free to contact the case facilitator for your area directly or use our contact form and the front office will get you started.

Additional Aquatic Therapy reading:

• Aquatic Therapy FAQs: Dr. Rabizadeh answers common questions!
• Aquatic Therapy is growing in popularity
• Aquatic Therapy pools are reopening June 21st, 2021