Aqua Therapy

Progressive Physiotherapy offers an aquatic therapy service at Richmond village in Letcombe Regis. Aquatic therapy or pool therapy is physiotherapy that is performed in the water. It is a beneficial form of therapy that is useful for a variety of medical conditions. Aquatic therapy uses the physical properties of water to assist in patient healing and exercise performance. It aims to rehabilitate patients after injury or those with chronic illness, avoiding the amount of weight placed on the joints by exercise outside the water.

One benefit of aquatic therapy is the buoyancy provided by the water. While submerged in water, buoyancy assists in supporting the weight of the patient. This decreases the amount of weight bearing which reduces the force of stress placed on the joints. This aspect of aquatic therapy is especially useful for patients with arthritis, healing fractured bones, or who are overweight. By decreasing the amount of joint stress it is easier and less painful to perform exercises.

Aquatic therapy also utilises hydrostatic pressure to decrease swelling and improve joint position awareness. This is important for patients who have experienced joint sprains, as when ligaments are torn, our joint awareness (proprioception) becomes decreased. The hydrostatic pressure also assists in decreasing joint and soft tissue swelling that results after injury or with arthritic disorders.

Lastly, the warmth of the water experience during aquatic therapy assists in relaxing muscles and increasing blood flow to injured areas. Patients with muscle spasms, back pain, and fibromyalgia find this aspect of aquatic therapy especially therapeutic.

It is important to know however, that aquatic therapy is not for everyone. Restrictions do apply and so here at Progressive Physiotherapy a full dry land assessment is required before aquatic therapy can begin and it is advisable to check with your GP too. If you have private health insurance this treatment may be covered for individual sessions, but it is available to those self paying on an individual basis