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Breaking Boundaries with Aquatic Therapy

Aquatic therapy consists of an exercise program that is performed in the water and Advantage Physical Therapy offers the only HydroWorx pool in Lexington. Water exercise is beneficial because the buoyancy of water helps support your body weight. This reduces stress on muscles and joints, making it easier and less painful for you to exercise.

Because your ability to tolerate exercise will be greatly improved while in the water, your therapist will be able to design an exercise program to help reduce your pain and functional limitations.

Aquatic Rehabilitation

is beneficial for anyone that has a difficult time tolerating land-based exercise because of pain, weakness, or from being overweight. It is also beneficial following surgery to limit stress on healing tissues. Aquatic Therapy also treats:

• Arthritis
• Chronic back pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Fractures
• Post surgical
• Joint replacement
• Severe weakness
• Poor balance

Frequently Asked Questions about Aquatic Therapy

Your physician has recommended you start aquatic therapy. What is aquatic therapy? How will it benefit you?

What does it cost?

Aquatic therapy is covered under most health insurance plans. You may be responsible for a deductible or co-pay depending on the type of insurance you have. Ouroffice manager will be happy to discuss your insurance benefits with you in detail. Regardless of your financial situation, arrangements can usually be made to make treatment affordable. It is recommended that you call your insurance companyprior to your first visit to verify your physical therapy benefits. When checking yourcoverage, ask for physical therapy in an office setting.

How can I get started?

Once your physician has recommended aquatic therapy you can simply call our office at (859) 263-8080 and we will work with you to schedule a convenient time for your initial evaluation. During your first visit a comprehensive evaluation of your condition will be performed. After answering all your questions, we will design a personalized aquatic therapy program to meet your specific needs.

What do you need to bring?

For your first visit please bring your prescription for treatment, your insurance card and any x-rays or other test results your doctor may have given you. You will also need to bring a change of clothes and an outfit to wear in the pool. A bathing suit is not required. Many patients simply wear a t-shirt and shorts. You may also want to bring nonslip footwear as the floors will be wet in the pool area. Locker and shower facilities are available. We will provide towels, but you will want to bring your own toiletries.

Aquatherapy and Osteoarthritis

Exercise is essential in addressing the pain, weakness, and decreased movement that you experience if you suffer from from Osteoarthritis (OA). An aquatic therapy program can allow you the benefits of exercise if you would have trouble tolerating a land-based program.

The following intrinsic properties of water make it a valuable resource in the treatment of OA when it is advanced:

Buoyancy: The buoyancy of water can decrease joint compression by up to 80%, thus significantly reducing the amount of joint pain experienced during exercise. Buoyancy can also be utilized to assist with painful movements, resulting in improved joint range of motions and flexibility. Furthermore, the buoyancy of water decreases the amount of energy required to perform a given exercise, which can dramatically improve your exercise tolerance.

Viscosity: The viscosity of water provides the resistance necessary for strengthening and conditioning, while protecting arthritic joints by preventing rapid movements. The viscous nature of water also provides a safe exercise environment for patients with balance deficits.

Hydrostatic pressure: The Hydrostatic pressure of water decreases the likelihood of injuring an arthritic joint because of poor joint positioning and may also relieve pain by promoting relaxation.

Warmth: With an average water temperature of 90\B0, the aquatic environment helps limber and decrease the pain of arthritic joints.

An appropriately designed aquatic therapy program will improve your range of motion and strength and decrease pain is you are suffering from OA.

Aquatherapy and Rheumatoid Arthritis

When developing an exercise program to address the potential long-term effects of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), care must be taken to minimize stress on your rheumatic joints. We can help you accomplish this through a structured aquatic therapy program.

An aquatic therapy program is preferred over a land-based exercise program for multiple reasons. First, an aquatic environment provides support for rheumatic joints, while at the same time decreasing joint forces. This will allow you to safely perform the necessary exercises to improve conditioning. In addition, the warmth of the water and hydrostatic properties promote muscle relaxation and decrease joint pain.

Furthermore, aquatic therapy can give you the ability to continue with your exercise program even during periods of acute flare-ups. assuring the quickest possible return to activity.

The following intrinsic properties of water make it a valuable resource in the treatment of RA.

Buoyancy: The buoyancy of water can decrease joint compression by up to 80%, thus significantly reducing the amount of joint pain experienced during exercise. Buoyancy can also be utilized to assist with painful movements, resulting in improved joint range of motions and flexibility. Furthermore, the buoyancy of water decreases the amount of energy required to perform a given exercise, which can dramatically improve your exercise tolerance.

Viscosity: The viscosity of water provides the resistance necessary for strengthening and conditioning, while protecting arthritic joints by preventing rapid movements. The viscous nature of water also provides a safe exercise environment for patients with balance deficits.

Hydrostatic pressure: The Hydrostatic pressure of water decreases the likelihood of injuring an arthritic joint because of poor joint positioning and may also relieve pain by promoting relaxation.

Warmth: With an average water temperature of 90\B0, the aquatic environment helps limber and decrease the pain of arthritic joints.

An appropriately designed aquatic therapy program will improve your range of motion and strength and decrease pain is you are suffering from OA.

Advantage Physical Therapy | 3217 Summit Square Place | Suite 100 | Lexington, KY 40509 | Telephone: 859.263.8080 | Fax: 859.263.8775 | Contact Us