Aquatic Physical Therapy Program

Many patients suffering from orthopaedic musculoskeletal pain will benefit from physical therapy. However, not all patients can tolerate physical exercise bearing one’s own body weight. This is why COAST Physical Therapy, P.C offers structured aquatic exercise in the form of aquatic physical therapy, also known as pool therapy. Kenneth D. Rescott, PT is our aquatic therapy director, and he in an experienced aquatic therapy provider with over 21 years of experience.

Aquatic physical therapy can be used for the management of many conditions such as knee and hip arthritis, low back pain, generalized body de-conditioning, balance problems, obesity, recovering from hip or knee replacement surgery, rehabilitation after spinal surgery and many more conditions.

The most important benefit of aquatic physical therapy based exercise is that when in the water, buoyancy enables exercise to be performed with one’s body weight reduced by a certain percentage. The percentage reduction in body weight is dependent upon how deep the water is relative to the body. Buoyancy functions like an anti-gravity environment to exercise in. This anti-gravity environment is important when attempting to strengthen through a painful joint. By reducing compressive forces acting through a painful joint, exercise can be performed with significantly less pain. If in deep enough water where the feet do not contact the bottom of the pool, there are no compressive forces acting through the joints.

Another benefit of the water environment is the fact that the body parts immersed in the water receive gentile compression from the water, which serves to help reduce inflammation, edema, as well as control for pain. Your physical therapist or doctor may suggest that you participate in an aquatic therapy program as a part of your rehabilitation. Our aquatic therapy program utilizes the YMCA-WEIU pool located at 27 William Street, Auburn NY and meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays of each week. For more information, or to get started on an aquatic therapy program, call our office today to schedule your appointment. Please call COAST Physical Therapy, P.C. at 315.253.3291.