Post by Lαrα on Dec 14, 2013 10:37:28 GMT -8
Aquatic Therapy is commonly used as part of the rehabilitation programme for individuals with a Spinal Cord Injury and to participate, you do not need to be able to swim! 
Aquatic therapy is basically physiotherapy that is performed in the water. There are advantages to exercising in the water such as the following:
Buoyancy assists in supporting the individuals weight, which is less stressful on joints. This is useful for any condition that makes weight-bearing difficult, from bone fractures to sprains and strains.
The waters resistance then helps strengthen muscle groups without putting strain on joints whilst the warmth of the water relaxes muscle and increases blood flow to muscles which helps heal.
It also helps with muscle spasms.
Gait strength can be improved, endurance and range of motion.
As well as offering benefits in rehabilitation, it can be used to give relief from over use of joints and muscles and help promote healing...and for many people with Spinal Cord Injuries...overuse of limbs is a common problem.
It will be interesting to hear members experiences of this form of therapy and if their rehab centres facilitate it. Here in the UK it is common practice in our rehab centres
. But now that everything has settled in that department I will see if I can use our town pool, they have a water wheelchair and a ramp that goes into the pool, so shouldn't be to hard. 
