For all the fitness lovers out there, aquatic therapy exercise seems to be the new age fitness mantra, to keep them alive and kicking for days! In today’s time, where fitness has indeed become a big concern for all of us, it is only good that we have an ever-expanding range of exercise to indulge in. Fitness gurus are forever grubbing for more and more inclusive means of exercise and aquatic therapy seems to be their latest breakthrough in this regard. Aqua-based exercises and treatments have been used for quite some time now, to combat medical and physical complications. However, aquatic therapy or pool therapy is one fun, physical exercise where you get to work out while being partially doused in water. It is the best bet for people suffering from arthritis, back pain, and even overweight or obese people, who cannot stress their joints or pick up weights. These exercises have proved useful for patients suffering from fibromyalgia too; they are said to have benefitted greatly from water properties. However, this kind of exercise is strictly not recommended for anyone with a history of heart disease, occasional seizures or bladder incontinence. So, before you take the plunge, take care to consult your physician to rule out any chances of future complications. Here are some well-known benefits of this aquatic health indulgence. Read on to know more.
Benefits Of Aquatic Therapy Exercises
- Aquatic therapy exercises are particularly helpful for obese people as well as those suffering from joint problems, arthritis or fractured bones. The buoyancy provided by water is believed to support the weight of such people. This, in turn, reduces stress on the joints making the exercises easier and less painful.
- Water also provides resistance while exercising, due to its viscosity, so that people can advance through various difficulty levels, while enhancing their performance. This kind of aquatic workout strengthens the joints, muscles and ligaments, without the use of free weights, which is not possible with a conventional workout. Using resistance, coupled with the water’s buoyancy, even allows a person to strengthen muscle groups with decreased joint stress, something that cannot be experienced in a gym.
- The hydrostatic pressure produced during aquatic therapy exercises is known to reduce joint inflammation and provide joint positional awareness to a person. As a result, proprioception is improved. These exercises are highly beneficial for patients with joint sprains and torn ligaments. They also help ease out soft tissue swelling caused by arthritis or injury.
- The warmth generated during aquatic therapy exercises assists in relaxing muscles and vasodilator vessels, increasing blood flow to the injured areas, if any. Thus, patients with muscle spasms, back pain, and fibromyalgia find aquatic therapy especially remedial.
- The best thing about aquatic workout is the near-weightless environment that is especially advantageous for people suffering from lower back pain, knee and hip ailments. The pressure on the lower back, during this kind of workout, is usually less. It also boosts muscle stimulation, which normally be hurtful out of water.