Exercises can be an effective treatment option for many types of pain. Arthritis. Fibromyalgia. Back pain. These are just a few of the issues that physical therapists use pain-relieving exercises for. 

However, some patients are dealing with conditions or injuries that make it hard to do pain-relieving exercises. Patients might even be worried about staying safe while doing their exercises. Water physical therapy can be an answer to safety worries while doing your pain-relief exercises. 

Three ways water physical therapy can make it safer to do pain-relieving exercises

Water physical therapy, or aquatic therapy, takes place in —you guessed it — water. Typically, heated pools are used for this type of therapy, and aquatic therapy sessions can involve strengthening, stretching and balancing exercises. This therapy technique has also been shown to benefit patients in many ways. For instance, one study reveals that more than 90% of patients who had aquatic therapy for back pain reported an improvement in their symptoms. 

For many patients, aquatic therapy can also be a safer alternative to land-based pain-reducing exercises. This type of therapy can help make doing such exercises safer by: 

1. Reducing the pressure on the body — Water has a characteristic called buoyancy. This is the way water presses upward on the body. Buoyancy can help make doing therapy exercises safer because it reduces the pressure that gravity places on the body. In fact, immersing yourself to the neck in water reduces the compression of gravity by 90%. 

2. Increasing stability — Staying stable can be hard for patients with back or lower body injuries. Doing therapy exercises in water can help increase your stability. This is possible because of the hydrostatic pressure present when you’re in water. Hydrostatic pressure is a force that presses inward on the body. This pressure can help you feel more stable, and it can also help reduce your swelling. 

3. Decreasing the need for additional weight — Adding weight to therapy exercises can make certain movements more beneficial. However, they can also decrease the safety of the exercise if the patient’s body isn’t ready for more weight. Aquatic therapy can help reduce such concerns. Water has a trait known as viscosity. This trait means that it resists movement, and physical therapists can use water’s natural resistance in place of weights when doing therapy exercises. 

Looking for water physical therapy? Rehab Access can help

Are you ready to make it safer to do pain-relieving exercises with water physical therapy? Our therapy specialists at Rehab Access are here to assist you. We offer complimentary screenings designed to reveal the issue that’s causing your pain. Our specialists also excel at creating personalized therapy plans to fit your specific needs, and this plan might include aquatic therapy. You can even try this or any of our other therapy services without a doctor’s referral. 

Don’t wait to start getting our help to treat your pain. Contact our team today for more information about our services or to schedule your initial appointment.