Joint pain is a common complaint among adults, especially older adults. According to the CDC, roughly 1 in 4 adults in the United States suffers from some form of joint pain. Nearly 44% of those surveyed reported that joint pain and stiffness prevented them from fully taking part in housework, hobbies and other activities. It can also prevent many people from getting the amount of exercise that they need to stay healthy.

Many people with joint pain turn to surgery or prescription pain medicine for relief. But those aren’t always the best options for everyone. Surgery can be risky and expensive, and painkillers can sometimes have harmful side effects. The risk of addiction is also a concern when using pain medication.

However, if joint pain is preventing you from staying active and participating in the things you enjoy, then aquatic therapy may be the answer. Aquatic therapy is a form of physical therapy that is performed in a body of water such as a pool. A licensed physical therapist can guide you through techniques designed to build your strength and improve your overall function, without putting pressure on your painful joints.

How can aquatic therapy help with joint pain?

Aquatic therapy has several unique properties that make it ideal for patients who have a difficult time engaging in traditional physical therapy due to joint pain. Some of these include:

1. Increasing muscle strength — Water resistance helps to gradually build muscle strength without the risk of injury. Increased strength will help you to be able to exercise more freely outside of the water.
2. Reducing pressure — One of the benefits of being submerged in water is that much less of your body weight is putting pressure on your joints. This greatly helps patients with joint pain to move freely and engage in exercise.
3. Decreasing inflammation — The pressure from the water surrounding the body helps to decrease the inflammation and swelling that often accompanies joint pain.
4. Reducing pain — Aquatic therapy helps to reduce pain by gently massaging the muscles of the body while the patient engages in therapeutic exercise. Moving your aching joints is key to keeping them from becoming stiff and painful. The warmth of the water also helps to relieve pain.

Where can I go for aquatic therapy near me?

At Rehab Access, our Gretna, Louisiana, location is fully equipped and ready to implement aquatic therapy into your physical therapy treatment. Our qualified therapists can help to diagnose the cause of your joint pain and work with you to provide individualized care. Aquatic therapy is just one of the many pain services we offer.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.