At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, innovation in sports medicine and a commitment to sports hydrotherapy play a critical role in keeping athletes at their peak. When designing the Champion Center, the athletic training team knew they wanted cutting-edge recovery tools—especially an underwater treadmill for athletes. But as they explored their options, they found that the best pools for athletic rehab offer more than just a treadmill.
“As we were building the Champion Center and looking for various pools to have in our athletic training room, the one thing that we wanted to have was an underwater treadmill,” says Dave Maclutsky, Associate Head Athletic Trainer at UMass Amherst. “And when we were looking at the SwimEx pool, we saw it had other options other than just the treadmill.”
From swim resistance training to deep water immersion and plyometric exercises, the SwimEx 800 T WS at UMass Amherst provides a versatile and powerful tool for rehabilitation, conditioning, and injury prevention.
Inside the UMass Amherst Training Room: The SwimEx 800 T WS Advantage
The Champion Center’s athletic training room features the SwimEx 800 T WS, one of the best pools for athletic rehab, with key features that enhance athlete care.
1. The Underwater Treadmill: Enhancing Rehabilitation and Conditioning
Maclutsky highlights the underwater treadmill for athletes as essential for both rehabilitation and conditioning. “Being on the treadmill gives them an opportunity to keep that conditioning so that when we get them back on the court, there’s less getting them back into game shape,” he explains.
The SwimEx underwater treadmill works like a traditional treadmill but with the added benefit of water resistance. This combination provides a challenging cardiovascular workout while strengthening core muscles—all with less joint impact than running on land. It also aids in re-learning proper running mechanics in a safe environment.
2. Paddlewheel Technology: Swim Resistance Training for Endurance and Cardio
Another key feature of the SwimEx 800 T WS is its powerful paddlewheel current, which creates a smooth, adjustable current for swim resistance training. Unlike jets, the paddlewheel system produces a consistent, wide stream of water that athletes can use for low-impact conditioning.
This continuous water flow allows athletes to engage in endurance training without excessive strain on their joints. The adjustable speed makes it easy to tailor workouts for different recovery and performance needs, providing a challenging yet controlled environment that builds stamina, muscle strength, and cardiovascular fitness.
3. Deep Well Immersion: Supporting Non-Weight-Bearing Exercise
Another key feature of the SwimEx 800 T WS is its deep well, which allows athletes to train in a fully buoyant environment. “We can get total non-weight-bearing athletes in there moving,” says Maclutsky. The buoyancy of deep water supports athletes with severe injuries, allowing them to exercise without stress on healing limbs. This enables an earlier start to rehabilitation, leading to faster overall recovery.
4. Independent Performance Zones for Plyometric Exercises
The 800 T WS has independent performance zones added to the interior, ideal for plyometric exercises.
As athletes progress in their rehab, the SwimEx pool allows them to transition to more sport-specific movements. “As an athlete is advancing in rehab and getting stronger outside the tub, we can start to get them moving more in sports-specific type exercises in the water before we have them perform those exercises out on the court,” Maclutsky explains.
By incorporating exercises like rebounding drills, athletes regain confidence and prepare for full return to play. “Some of these student-athletes have been out for months. So now we grab a basketball, get in there, they’re doing some rebounding drills, and it sort of gets them mentally prepared. They’re like, ‘Okay, I’m getting ready to get back into my sport.'”
The Growing Trend: Sports Hydrotherapy in College and Professional Athletics
UMass Amherst’s choice of the SwimEx pool shows a larger trend in college and professional sports. Sports hydrotherapy is becoming known as a crucial tool for helping athletes stay healthy and perform their best. A widespread use among top athletic programs shows how valuable hydrotherapy is for helping athletes recover faster, improving their rehabilitation. Investing in hydrotherapy shows a growing understanding of its many benefits for taking care of athletes and helping them reach their full potential.
Speeding Up Recovery and Boosting Mental Progress
Athletes who use hydrotherapy typically return to their sport faster. Hydrotherapy reduces stress on joints and muscles, allowing athletes to move with less pain. “We get them moving quicker through hydrotherapy,” Maclutsky explains. The hydrostatic pressure of water helps reduce swelling and inflammation while improving circulation.
Maclutsky also highlights the mental benefits—when athletes can move in water, even before they can bear weight on land, they feel they are making progress toward recovery. This sense of progress is crucial for mental well-being. The ability to engage in physical activity, even in a low-impact environment, helps athletes maintain confidence and stay motivated. It reminds them that they are on track to return to competition, which is key to keeping spirits high during recovery.
“These are athletes. They want to be running and they want to be moving,” Maclutsky says, noting that this method is more engaging than stationary cardio options like cycling.
Better Conditioning and Increased Endurance
Health experts agree that water’s unique properties make it an ideal environment for exercise. The underwater treadmill for athletes at UMass Amherst provides the cardiovascular benefits of running while minimizing joint stress. Benefits include better balance and coordination, good recovery after injuries because the water pressure helps reduce swelling, improved running form because the water’s resistance and flow help guide movement, and better heart health with an added core workout when running against the water.
Preventing Injuries with Low-Impact Training
Overuse injuries are a common challenge for athletes who perform high-volume, repetitive movements on land. Sports hydrotherapy offers a unique solution by minimizing mechanical stress on joints, muscles, and connective tissues. The low-impact environment allows athletes to maintain training intensity while reducing the risk of chronic injuries from repetitive strain. Unlike land-based training, hydrotherapy provides resistance in every direction—helping to build strength, stability, and flexibility without excessive strain.
The Competitive Edge of Hydrotherapy
Having a SwimEx 800 T gives UMass Amherst a distinct edge in athlete recovery and conditioning. “It definitely gives us an advantage to other schools that do not have the use of equipment,” says Maclutsky. With advanced hydrotherapy tools at their disposal, the UMass Amherst training staff helps athletes recover faster, stay in top form, and confidently return to play.
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