It can be difficult to transition back to normalcy after coming out of a hip surgery or suffering from an ankle break or pulled tendon. While many of our patients hope to immediately resume to their normal activities, chances are that additional time and treatment is needed. Water therapy has become an increasingly desired method of treatment. This form of physical therapy helps to quickly re-strengthen and retrain injured areas. Next time you meet with a patient recovering from a broken bone or looking for ways to improve their overall wellness, consider discussing the benefits of Water Therapy- they might surprise you!
6 Benefits of Water Therapy
- Great Resistance Workout
Water is 12 times denser than air! Each movement you make with your arms and legs is pushing against a significant amount of resistance. Therefore, water can greatly strengthen weak or unused muscles. Someone who is recovering from a broken bone may want to consider water therapy. Water aerobic exercises can let you gently re-train your un-used muscles by using different strokes and movements.
- Less Joint Strain
The buoyancy of water helps to support a significant amount of your body weight, taking pressure off of weak or injured joints. People who are recovering from a knee surgery or back injury may want to consider this workout. Additionally, you can choose to incorporate different pool accessories like kickboards or floating weights, making this workout even more versatile!
- Less Body Strain
Another benefit of water therapy is low impact on your body. Traditional workouts such as running or biking can actually have a harsher impact on your body. When immersed in water your body becomes 50 percent lighter. The viscosity of water naturally makes you move slower, therefore allowing your brain to receive sensory signals. These signals then help restructure and retrain your body. Someone who is struggling with arthritic joint pains, overweight, or recovering from an injury can benefit from swimming.
- Muscle Relaxation
Muscle relaxation is yet another benefit of water therapy. Specifically, warm water helps to dilate blood vessels improving your body’s circulation. Increased blood flow and circulation can help your body in many ways, for example, the treatment of sore muscles. Muscle strain or soreness can hinder your ability to keep training, making this benefit of water therapy a major draw to many people. Last, the push and flow of water hitting your skin can actually serve as a gentle massage on your body’s muscles, further promoting muscle rejuvenation.
- Injury Free Zone
Lots of people are attracted to swimming because it is often times a stress-free and relaxing environment. Swimming is one of the few sports where your chances of injury are extremely slim. Unlike other sports, there are fewer hazards associated with swimming. No tackling, soccer balls flying in the air, hockey sticks being thrown around, or people wrestling each other. A surprising benefit of water therapy is that often times it may not even feel like therapy! Swimming is a naturally inviting activity that can easily turn into hours in the pool!
- Improves Your Mental Health
While there are many physical benefits of water exercise on your body, the final benefit of water therapy we are going to discuss is its impact on your mental health. The rhythmic motions of swimming can help to keep you calm similarly to how meditation can.
There you have it! The benefits of water therapy seem to be never-ending! The next time you are working with patients struggling to find the right type of treatment for an injury ask yourself if water therapy is the right option.
