What is Aquatic Physiotherapy?
Aquatic physiotherapy is a type of physiotherapy performed in water, it is often referred to as hydrotherapy. This type of physiotherapy uses the properties of water to support the body, aid movement and increase strength with low impact. Typically it’s carried out in a pool with a warmer temperature around 33-360C.
What are the benefits of Aquatic Physiotherapy?
Research has been conducted into the benefits of physiotherapy in warm water and below are some of the anticipated effects:
- Water supports the body, so the child feels freer and more confident to move.
- Warmer water helps muscles to relax helping to improve movement and flexibility.
- Strengthens weaker muscles with less stress on muscle and joints.
- Relieves pain.
- Reduces muscle spasm.
- Improves cardiovascular fitness and endurance.
- Helps to improve coordination and motor planning.
- Allows children to experience standing and walking, which can be difficult to achieve on land.
- It makes therapy fun!
What conditions benefit from aquatic physiotherapy?
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Cerebral Palsy
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta
- Hypermobility disorders
- Rehabbing musculoskeletal injuries e.g. after a fracture
- And many more!
How does Ready Steady Therapy provide Aquatic Physiotherapy?
We come to you for Aquatic Physiotherapy! Lots of local leisure centre pools have swimming pools that are heated to warmer temperatures and have accessible changing facilities. Prior to the appointment your physio will call the local leisure centre to ensure they are able to use the pool for aquatic physio and to provide any documentation required by the leisure centre (each leisure centre has different requirements). We also recommend that you visit the pool prior to our appointment to ensure there is adequate accessibility and changing facilities.
For children who attend school with a swimming pool we can support their educational team during their swimming time to provide aquatic physiotherapy and activity suggestions for when they use the swimming pool at school. Please note this has to be arranged with the school and permission given by the Principal or Assistant Principal.
If you are lucky enough to own your own swimming pool or spa then we can provide aquatic physiotherapy sessions in your own home. Unless the pool is heated this is limited to the summer months. We require a private area for your Physiotherapist to shower and change after the session.
Aquatic Physiotherapy frequently asked questions
Not necessarily, dependent on your child’s ability it may be possible to do the session with just your Physiotherapist in the water. However, we do recommend you get in the water too so you can learn the activities and exercises to do with your child. We always need somebody pool side.
No. Ready Steady Therapy pays for the Physiotherapist’s admission cost.
75 minutes in duration, this allows for 45 minutes in the water plus time for the Physiotherapist to change before and after the session and to write up the session notes.
Any floats or supports your child uses in the water, a swim nappy if your child needs one, we recommend your child wearing a wet suit style swimsuit as it keeps them warmer in the water and any water toys your child uses.
