Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive degenerative disease that affects the brain, causing a decrease in the production of dopamine. This decrease in dopamine affects the movement and balance of people with PD. They are usually treated with medication but exercise is one of the most important things a person can do to help maintain mobility and quality of life.
Exercise promotes a healthy, independent lifestyle and helps to slow the progression of symptoms, improve balance, strengthen the muscles, and improve flexibility and coordination.
The pool is one of the best places for people with Parkinson's to exercise because the buoyancy of the water reduces the impact on the joints, decreasing pain and reducing the chance of injury. Water is soothing, allowing the muscles to relax and lengthen. And, water provides support and decreases the fear of falling that people with PD can have when exercising on land.
Do you know that more children between the ages of 1-4 die from
drowning than any other cause of death? I am passionate about decreasing this preventable tragedy, whether it be children or adults. I had a brother drown when he was 9 years old.
Individuals who have had a cerebral vascular accident (CVA), also known as a stroke, can have lingering symptoms such as weakness, loss of balance, and memory loss. There is a decrease in their functional independence which results in a decrease in quality of life.
The aquatic properties of a pool gives partial support to the body, allows better mobilization of joints and provides motor and sensory stimuli necessary for recovery. Aquatic therapy is a superior choice for training in balance, gait, and weight transfer due to water's unique physical characteristics.
Silva dos Santos AC, Bernabé Pratti B, Pereira de Lima D, et al. Effects of aquatic physical therapy on balance in post-cerebrovascular accident patients: an integrative review. Fisioterapia Brasil. 2022;23(4):633-643. doi:10.33233/fb.v23i4.5168
LBP is one of the most widely experienced physical conditions in the world. Many people will stop exercising to avoid aggravating the pain but, the truth is, studies show that exercise is significantly more effective than rest. Most occurrences of LBP do not require treatment and will go away on its own.
For some people, back pain can return or hang on, leading to a decrease in quality of life. LBP can be caused by many different conditions, including muscle strain, bulging/ruptured discs, spinal stenosis, and osteoarthritis.
Water is a great way to treat LBP. The buoyancy of the water relieves the compression of the spine and stress on the muscles while the resistance of the water strengthens the weak muscles of the abdominals, lower back, hips, and legs. Many people tolerate exercising in a pool better than they do on land.