Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Like most of the population, we are embarking upon our New Year’s resolutions at this time of year. Have you vowed to get
healthier? That’s one of the most common goals attempted, but often times we grow weary of our objectives before we even get a chance to reach the fitness level we desire.
Why Do We Fall Short?
Usually this question is summed up by two distinct answers; first, we go “all in” and end up injuring ourselves or fighting painful, stiff muscle cramps for days that with each step, we seemingly can barely make it over the threshold. And the second is that we make excuses and never actually take the steps to getting fit.
Sound familiar? There is a much better way. Along with attempting to eat a healthier diet, which is extremely important, exercise is vital to building muscle, improving blood flow, reducing fatigue, losing weight, increasing energy, improving memory and relieving joint pain.
But how do we get there if we’re doomed to fail just like years past? This year, your solution is to resolve to try aquatic therapy. Aquatic therapy is great for rehabilitation and training, but it’s also extremely beneficial for cardiovascular health and reducing inflammation caused by disorders like arthritis.
What is Aquatic Therapy?
On land, walking is a very beneficial way to workout with low impact, but in saying that, three times your body weight is the amount of pressure put on your knee joints while walking. For example, if you weigh 180 pounds, then 540 pounds of pressure is on your knee joints with every step.
When the body is submerged in water, it has buoyancy, which reduces stress on joints and muscles because the water opposes the weight of the immersed limbs. If an individual that weighs 180 pounds is under water, that person will only weigh about 10 pounds in the water. Since our bodies are approximately 15-18% fat, the fat weighs virtually nothing in the water, which helps with agility and promotes a feeling of lightness. This is exceptionally beneficial for protecting our joints.
A professional rehabilitation therapist can help increase your range of motion and flexibility within aquatic therapy treatment. From underwater treadmills to bikes, weights, belts, and tubes, there are many different types of equipment that can assist you in water treatment, but it is sometimes just as beneficial to use no equipment in aquatic exercising. The specially trained therapists will decide which therapy is right for your specific needs. Underwater (usually waist high) you will build up the strength of your muscles, making them stronger through resistance training, utilizing your own body against the pressure of the water.
The Documented Results of Aquatic Therapy
If you are immersed up to your waist, your body will weigh only 50% of its actual weight, and if you are immersed up to your chest, it’s approximately 25% of your weight. This weight reduction is helpful to relieve pain and to protect weak bones, muscle tears or joint friction. Water exercise can help you lose weight, as you will burn calories, and it also promotes relaxation throughout the entire body, which is beneficial for healing and overall health and wellness.
Individuals that have undergone aquatic therapy have shown significant results in improving their balance. Many people no longer require canes or walkers after their sessions have concluded. Each session is approximately 30 minutes long, and your therapist will decide exactly what’s best for you.
Isn’t it time that you found freedom in the water and achieved those New Year’s goals to get healthier?
To find out more about how aquatic therapy can help you, please visit, therapeuticlifestylesolutions.com, or call Therapeutic Lifestyle Solutions at 941-201-6089.
Therapeutic Lifestyle Solutions
4702 Cortez Rd West, Bradenton, FL 34210
941.201.6089
www.therapeuticlifestylesolutions.com
