Orthopedic recovery
The specialty of orthopedics relates to the entire skeletal system and joints. And whether it’s knees, hips or shoulders, the key to recovering from orthopedic surgery is increasing mobility and flexibility. Aquatic rehab benefits your clients in the orthopedic surgery recovery process.
SwimEx aquatic therapy pools are completely adjustable in every way to create different intensity levels for strengthening and rehab. Adjust the paddlewheel current to accomplish multiple activities at different intensity levels. This helps increase orthopedic joint mobility and allows clients to work at their own pace.
Adjust the speed increments on our integrated underwater treadmill to get an individualized workout and move up at the client’s own speed. And adjust the depth of the pool water to change the amount of weightlessness experienced. Because standing in chest high water reduces body weight by at least 80%, stress on joints and the entire body is immediately reduced. All the health benefits of exercise are gained, with less discomfort. What’s more, exercising in water means clients have no fear of falling and re-injuring themselves.
Our aquatic rehab and therapy pools are designed for easy accessibility with built-in stairs, and are unmatched for orthopedic surgery rehab!
Arthritis and fibromyalgia
Symptoms associated with arthritis and fibromyalgia can be minimized with water exercises. Generally, arthritis (there are more than 100 types) is inflammation of a joint that causes stiffness, swelling, redness and pain. Similarly, fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic pain, stiffness and tenderness in joints, muscles and tendons. A key treatment for both is exercise and relaxation.
The buoyancy of water supports a person’s weight. Exercising in a pool can be performed with minimal joint stress, resulting in less pain. The supportive aquatic environment is ideal for strengthening muscle and improving flexibility, and increasing your range of motion.
The warm water in a SwimEx aquatic rehab and therapy pool and the adjustable water current helps stimulate the senses as it relaxes sore muscles and joints, further reducing stress and pain. In addition, the SwimEx massage wand can be used to penetrate arthritic joints and manipulate scar tissue, easing joint pain and relaxing chronically aching muscles.
Walking and running can also be accomplished in water with less pain. Running or walking against the current or on an integrated underwater treadmill with adjustable speeds will help achieve all the benefits with less pain and muscle soreness.
Chronic pain
Chronic pain persists or progresses over time, as opposed to acute pain that arises suddenly in response to a specific injury. Chronic pain can be due to many different medical conditions and can be difficult to diagnose. The good news is relaxation in a SwimEx aquatic rehab pool can bring relief and help control pain. The warmth of the pool water and the localization of jet massage can provide a sensory experience which aids in relaxation and stress relief, bringing a respite from chronic pain. The pool’s hydrotherapy jets and flexible massage wand deliver a deep, penetrating massage right where it hurts. Penetrate stiff joints, manipulate scar tissue, or relieve aching muscles.
You can also exercise comfortably in a SwimEx. Our integrated swim spa treadmill has adjustable speeds that let you work at your own pace while the water bears most of your weight. That reduces the stress on your joints and muscles so there is no reason not to get the exercise you need to strengthen muscles. Plus, exercise releases endorphins – the body’s own painkillers.
Neuromuscular conditions
Neuromuscular conditions relate to both nerves and muscles. Two common ones are multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy. For these patients, SwimEx pools make getting exercise easier and more convenient.
First of all, the pool water provides sensory stimulation to create kinesthetic awareness. The buoyancy of the water reduces stress on the body so you can focus on motor skills and exercises. The variable speed underwater treadmill helps with gait training without fear of falling. And, our targeted, adjustable-strength, penetrating spa jet massages can reduce discomfort. Target specific areas with our flexible water jet massage wand. All these pool features help with neuromuscular pain management.
Other SwimEx features make re-learning how to walk easier. To maximize the learning process, you need to see what your legs are doing while you are moving them. Our underwater cameras let you study movement and adjust accordingly. To make getting in and out of the pool easier and safer, you can choose between built-in stairs or a chair lift.
Pediatric exercise and swimming
The warmth and sensory stimulation of exercising in a SwimEx benefits children of all ages and sizes. Since SwimEx pools can be built with different depth options, they are ideal for the pediatric population and specific treatment protocols. Children relax in the warm water and regard rehabilitation and strengthening exercises as fun activities. Flotation belts or balance rings can help them achieve total weightlessness, eliminating stress on joints and muscles. The variable paddlewheel counter-current can be adjusted to make swimming exercises easy, or to increase resistance for correct movement. Installed resistance jets can be used to improve stimuli reception and balance.
Weight loss
Swimming has long been a great way to tone your body and lose weight while putting very little stress on your joints. SwimEx swim-in-place pools make weight loss through swimming and aquatic exercise easy and convenient.
SwimEx pools feature the smoothest counter-current in the industry due to our industry exclusive and superior paddlewheel technology, making our pools versatile for all types of aquatic exercise to lose weight. Our integrated underwater treadmill has adjustable speeds that let you work at your own pace while the water bears most of your weight.
Studies have shown that a person generally burns two calories more per minute of activity in the water than on land. So while you’re nearly weightless in the water, you can easily do exercises and movements that might have been hard to perform on land, reducing tension, frustration and pain.
Consult your doctor or a medical professional if you think you need physical therapy, whether on land or in a pool.