I have been undergoing physical therapy for past 2.5 years, since my injury. Around 6 months ago, I met a guy with Gullian-Barre Syndrome at my previous rehab. He was coming to physical therapy in the morning and again used to go to hydro therapy in the evening. He said that he had significant improvement in hydro therapy and also asked me to give it a shot. My parents are keen to take me to hydro therapy sessions.
Here in Hyderabad,India, we have only few hydro therapy centers and that are all belonged to same parent hospital group. And each session there is super costly.
When I ask my therapist if he advocates hydro therapy to me, then he would say "Hey, do you want to try it, then lets do it. I have a friend who has a swimming pool. Lets go there for few sessions if you want. Lets get into pool and we can have some exercises."
He has no experience in hydro therapy. I asked the same question to my previous physio, who moved to other city. She also never had experience with hydro therapy. She just said "You may try if you want. There is no harm in doing it."
I am sure, even if I join hydro therapy sessions, physios there would not have any prior experience with SCIs.
Now, the option I have is to ask my therapist to take me to normal swimming pool and try there. I know it will be weird and may also turn out to be awkward situation but I am ready to take it if it benefits me.
My point is, does it all worth it? Did any of you try hydro therapy? How was the experience? Did you find any improvement because of it? Any inputs about it?
My present condition: My right half of the body has recovered significantly and is "almost normal". In the left half, obliges are responding little. Hip flexors and knee flexors are weak. Knee extensors and Ankle have high spasticity. There is little to good movement in all muscles other than Ankle. So, I can take few steps(ranging from 4-40) based on various factors.
Any help/advice/suggestion from someone who had undergone hydro therapy or has idea about it?
I Googled "sci hydro therapy" and "sci aquatic therapy" just now, and selected "videos" beneath the Google search bar. There is a large selection. You might pick out the best videos for your injury level and ask your therapists to watch them.
I Googled "sci hydro therapy" and "sci aquatic therapy" just now, and selected "videos" beneath the Google search bar. There is a large selection. You might pick out the best videos for your injury level and ask your therapists to watch them.
Yeah Vintage. I also googled and found that info. But obviously physio will take me to a pool if I insist. But I wanted to know is it really that worth that muscles will get strengthened good compared to what we do in normal therapy.
I wanted to know from people who had undergone that if it is really worth to go through all this.
The main reason I am asking this is because I have to use a normal regular pool for my sessions.
younggun I think it'd definitely be benificial. Swimming in it self has so many great health benefits so doing hydrotherapy with a physiotherapist will only make things better. Give it a try, do a few sessions and see what you think. You won't see any progress right away obviously but I'm sure it'll pay off over time. You've made considerable recovery so far so I have no doubt that you'll recover even more.
younggun I think it'd definitely be benificial. Swimming in it self has so many great health benefits so doing hydrotherapy with a physiotherapist will only make things better. Give it a try, do a few sessions and see what you think. You won't see any progress right away obviously but I'm sure it'll pay off over time. You've made considerable recovery so far so I have no doubt that you'll recover even more.
Yeah.. Thanks man.. I think it would be better if I combine my normal therapy sessions with 1-2 hydro therapy sessions a week.
Post by kilg0retr0ut on Dec 20, 2016 11:36:09 GMT -8
Just working against the water's resistance is great exercise, you'll probably feel it the next day. I went with a P.T. for awhile then got a membership. This was also a public pool and heavy in chlorine, and started really drying my skin out. Maybe give it a shot, like DJ says, you may find it challenging and I had a good time. I do remember though now that the bottom of the pool had this sand like texture, hard on the feet with altered sensation. I ended up using swim shoes.
I did 2x a week, that was more than enough sometimes, recovery time seems slower for me after my injury.
Just working against the water's resistance is great exercise, you'll probably feel it the next day. I went with a P.T. for awhile then got a membership. This was also a public pool and heavy in chlorine, and started really drying my skin out. Maybe give it a shot, like DJ says, you may find it challenging and I had a good time. I do remember though now that the bottom of the pool had this sand like texture, hard on the feet with altered sensation. I ended up using swim shoes.
Oh great. I was a frequent swimmer before injury and really miss it. But I am getting irritated soon with those awkward pity looks when I am out in new place. So, I was weighing the advantages. Thanks for that input. Hope, I will also have some good time in water.
Post by kilg0retr0ut on Dec 20, 2016 11:53:25 GMT -8
I remember that they didn't have it during the open swim, so maybe just one kid taking a lesson, maybe a couple people doing laps. I remember thinking I was going to swim the length, almost didn't make it, it was like everything was moving, but I was going backward. I didn't realize it but my left leg looked like a fish being pulled in trolling. I found I could swim better without using my legs at all.
Hiyounggun Not sure whether my input will be helpful - but will add anyway. Peter has found hydrotherapy (in addition to his normal physiotherapy) really beneficial. He does have his therapy in a warmer than normal pool with a specially trained therapist. However in the last few months he has also been having a solo exercise session. He just walks around and does some exercises and can propel himself a little way with his legs (he has a float round his neck. He hopes to be able to swim again soon. The benefit to him is that the warm water relaxes his muscles and therefore helps with the spasticity/tightness. Also the water enables him to do movements he wouldn't be able to do on land and those he can do on land are easier in the water too. He can walk better/further in the water because it supports and de weights him too. Things that would cause him problems are - water that is too cold (hydro pools are pretty warm - body temperature I think)or too many people as he isn't so good at steering himself round others and also high noise levels affect his concentration. Should also add that for safety reasons he needs a neck float just in case he falls. If you can manage in an ordinary pool then the benefits to confidence and building strength are enormous, plus all the usual cardio vascular benefits from exercise. Peter is in his late 60's so as a much younger man you may progress faster than he has. Definitely worth a try. Good luck.
What happens when a paraplegic, with no movement below T9, goes swimmimg? With a neck float, I wouldn't drown. I can use my arms. I used to be a good swimmer. Also, I only have one leg. I don't have a therapist. I just want to go swimming for fun.
What happens when a paraplegic, with no movement below T9, goes swimmimg? With a neck float, I wouldn't drown. I can use my arms. I used to be a good swimmer. Also, I only have one leg. I don't have a therapist. I just want to go swimming for fun.
Hi Vintage Peter's injury is C4-C7 and he has a lot of problems with a wonky shoulder (old rugby injury) so his upper body strength isn't all it should be either - though it is improving. He feels he doesn't need a neck float but his therapist has insisted he wears one so being the good boy he is, he complies . I can't answer your question except to say that there are a few Olympian paraplegic swimmers who only have one leg, so I guess it's possible. Hope you get to go swimming if that's what you want to do . Peter never liked it pre injury so his enthusiasm is new. You will surely find it easier than him if you were a keen swimmer before.
Hiyounggun Not sure whether my input will be helpful - but will add anyway. Peter has found hydrotherapy (in addition to his normal physiotherapy) really beneficial. He does have his therapy in a warmer than normal pool with a specially trained therapist. However in the last few months he has also been having a solo exercise session. He just walks around and does some exercises and can propel himself a little way with his legs (he has a float round his neck. He hopes to be able to swim again soon. The benefit to him is that the warm water relaxes his muscles and therefore helps with the spasticity/tightness. Also the water enables him to do movements he wouldn't be able to do on land and those he can do on land are easier in the water too. He can walk better/further in the water because it supports and de weights him too. Things that would cause him problems are - water that is too cold (hydro pools are pretty warm - body temperature I think)or too many people as he isn't so good at steering himself round others and also high noise levels affect his concentration. Should also add that for safety reasons he needs a neck float just in case he falls. If you can manage in an ordinary pool then the benefits to confidence and building strength are enormous, plus all the usual cardio vascular benefits from exercise. Peter is in his late 60's so as a much younger man you may progress faster than he has. Definitely worth a try. Good luck.
That is great to know. Yeah tightness really eases in warm water. I really appreciate your inputs moco. It really gives me a gut feeling that I will get benefits from hydro therapy apart from normal therapy sessions. Thankyou so much for providing this info.