As someone who has had knee issues and one too many surgeries, I am appreciative of today’s guest post from Forrest. I agree that being in the pool is a great way to stay active with very little impact on your body. It is also great for pregnancy as the water takes away that whole “I feel like I’m a zillion pounds” feeling. Thanks for the post Forrest!
Aquatic therapy provides many benefits that traditional exercises can’t. This is due to the low-impact environment that water provides, your joints do not undergo the stress they normally would in the open air. Due to this unique property, aquatic therapy has become a revolutionary tool in helping many people rehabilitate from a variety of conditions.
“What we used to see heal at 6 weeks we now see heal at 3 weeks. What we used to see at 4 weeks we know see at 1 week” Jack H. Henry, MD (Texas Tech University Department of Orthopaedics)
A specialized rehab pool or swim spa may be the answer for many suffering from joint or ligament pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, or other afflictions in which impact may worsen the condition. The buoyancy effect of water reduces the amount of body weight that is acting upon your joints. In fact, if you are standing in shoulder-high water, only 10% of your total body weight is acting upon your joints. You can also strengthen a wider range of muscles due to the resistant nature of water. The pressure of the water helps to decrease swelling and increase circulation, similar to wearing a support hose. Also, the soothing sensation of warm water helps to relieve stress, and may allow you to do things you could not normally do on land.
If you are interested in seeing if aquatic therapy is the answer to your condition, try contacting your local health facilities and see if they offer a program. If you find a suitable location, you will find that aquatic therapy is a relaxing and enjoyable way to relieve the pain and stress associated with arthritis. Not to mention it is a great way to socialize and exercise at the same time!
photo credit: dakotaduff
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That sounds like it would be great to try. Exercising in water is always fun!
Sagans last blog post..How much food is just right?
I love aqua aerobics!
But I practice a different kind of aquatic therapy: we take the kids to the pool, play around for an hour or so, and give them a bath at home.
They sleep like ROCKS, lol!
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