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Pool Therapy for the Female Client Feb 4-5, 2012 |
Aquatic Therapy for Total Hip/ Knee Feb 10-11, 2012 |
Hands-On Aquatic Therapy Techniques March 9-10, 2012 |
| Water-Based Interventions for the Neuro Client April 13-14, 2012 |
Marketing Strategies for the Aquatic Therapy Manager Sept 7-8, 2012 |
Function in Water: Closed-Chain Progressions Oct 12-13, 2012 |
Research Center for Children with Special Health Care Needs, Franciscan Hospital for Children , Boston, MA , USA.
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a 14-week aquatic exercise programme for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Design: Non-randomized control trial. Methods: Twelve children participated in this pilot study with seven participants in the aquatic exercise group and five in the control group. The programme was held twice per week for 40 minutes per session. Swimming skills, cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular endurance, mobility skills and participant and parent satisfaction were measured before and after the intervention. Results: No significant between-group changes were found. Within-group improvements for swimming skills were found for the intervention group. Programme attendance was high. Parents and children were very satisfied with the programme activities and instructors. Conclusions: This pilot programme was feasible and showed potential for improving swimming ability in children with ASD. Exercise intensity was low for some participants, most likely contributing to a lack of significant findings on fitness outcomes.
Comprehensive Aquatic Therapy (CAT) authors just got their first-eyes copies of this 3rd edition.
Over 8 years in the making.... It's HUGE.
At 560 pages and 1.5" thick, it's 140 pages bigger than the 2nd edition. It's truly the quintessential guide to aquatic therapy.
Comprehensive Aquatic Therapy remains the acknowledged reference text for aquatic therapists the world over. Featuring extensive updates from the 2nd edition, in this edition the editors have included extensive case studies, with multiple choice questions and answers as didactic content.New chapters have been added, covering the entire scope of aquatic therapy practice, including innovative new techniques with material for program development, including staff training and marketing.
Jump into your suit, grab your coffee and leave for work!
This daily ritual takes on a very literal meaning if you choose to work in the water with children on the spectrum. Many of us have experienced the sensory seeking child who loves the pool.
Let’s talk about this phenomenon first. The hydrostatic pressure of the water provides a blanket of deep pressure to the child’s largest organ: the skin. Because she is in a swim suit, the skin is exposed to the viscous fluid, giving CNS messages about where the body is in space.
Unique properties of the water allow children to work on developmental skills such as crawling, walking, rolling and jumping.
Buoyancy can assist, support or resist, depending on the therapy goal. The child who likes his bath and has had positive experiences in the pool will be highly motivated to learn in the aquatic environment.
Motor planning, self-regulation, speech, oral motor control, strength and coordination are just a few areas that are likely to improve as a result of therapy in the water.
A typical scenario may be
Continue reading "The Benefits of Aquatic Therapy for Special Needs Children" »
Aquatic therapy has been shown to be effective for fibromyalgia, arthritis, back pain and many other "musculoskeletal" disorders. But what of the neurologically involved child? Read more for a pilot study examining the effects of aquatics for children with developmental disorders.
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Hillier S, McIntyre A, Plummer L. Aquatic physical therapy for children with developmental coordination disorder: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Phys Occup Ther Pediatr. 2010 May;30(2):111-24.
Aquatic therapy is an intervention for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) that has not been investigated formally.
This was a pilot randomized controlled trial to investigate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an aquatic therapy program to improve motor skills of children with DCD.
Thirteen children (mean age 7 years 1 month; 10 males) with DCD were randomly allocated to receive either six sessions of aquatic therapy (once weekly session of 30 min for 6-8 weeks) or to a wait-list (control group).
The intervention and measures were demonstrated to be feasible, but barriers, such as limited appointment times and accessibility, were encountered.
Analysis of covariance indicated that at posttest, mean scores on the Movement Assessment Battery were higher for children who received aquatic therapy compared to those on the wait-list (p = .057). Similar trends were noted on the physical competence portion of the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance (p = .058).
Participation levels, as measured by a parent questionnaire, showed improvement for both groups. Potential facilitators and barriers to implementation of an aquatic therapy for children with DCD are discussed.
Wow. What if just 6 months of corrective exercises in water can alter
scoliosis in children? What an amazing thought. Read the study that supports the theory.
Barczyk K, Zawadzka D, Hawrylak A, Bocheńska A, Skolimowska B, Małachowska-Sobieska M. The influence of corrective exercises in a water environment on the shape of the antero-posterior curves of the spine and on the functional status of the locomotor system in children with Io scoliosis. Ortop Traumatol Rehabil. 2009 May-Jun;11(3):209-21.
BACKGROUND:
There has been a growing interest in studies examining the importance
of the aquatic environment in non-invasive treatment of scoliosis. The
water environment is an important element in the correction of body
posture abnormalities. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the
influence of corrective exercises in a water environment on the shape
of the antero-posterior curves of the spine and on the functional
status of the locomotor system of children with Io scoliosis.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved a group of 94 children aged 8-13 years with Cobb Io scoliosis. Computer-aided photogrammetry was used to analyse the shape of the antero-posterior curves of the spine.
The functional evaluation of the children's musculoskeletal system involved several functional tests: the Dega wall test, Thomas test, Lasegue test, and Kraus-Weber test.
The tests were carried out twice: before a 6-month programme of corrective exercises in a water environment, and immediately on completion of the rehabilitation programme. The programme included swimming and corrective exercises in water.
RESULTS: A statistical analysis of the dimensions of the anterio-posterior curves of the spine revealed a significant increase in the total length of the spine and the length of thoracic kyphosis.
Besides, the bending angle of the trunk, the angle of thoracic kyphosis and the angle of lumbar lordosis were reduced. The analysis also showed an increase in the bending angle of the upper spine. Shoulder mobility also increased significantly following the programme of corrective aquatic exercises.
CONCLUSIONS: 1. The programme of corrective exercises had an influence on the length and angle of thoracic kyphosis. 2. The muscle strength of the lower part of the erector spinae also increased, as did shoulder mobility measured by the Dega test.
Here are some links to the latest facts about swim
diaper effectiveness. At their best, they still allow up to 2% fecal
matter to escape.
The takeaway? Nothing is poop-proof.
Nearly 5000 aquatic therapists get it every week. So why not you?
Here are just a few of the topics you missed...
Click here to read all the archives... or to sign up to get the hotsheet emailed directly to you every Monday.
The effectiveness and safety of a group aquatic aerobic exercise program on cardiorespiratory endurance for children with disabilities was examined using an A-B study design. Sixteen children (11 males, five females) age range 6 to 11 years (mean age 9y 7mo [SD 1y 4mo]) participated in this twice-per-week program lasting 14 weeks. The children's diagnoses included autism spectrum disorder, myelomeningocele, cerebral palsy, or other developmental disability. More than half of the children ambulated independently without aids. Children swam laps and participated in relay races and games with a focus of maintaining a defined target heart rate zone. The strengthening component consisted of exercises using bar bells, aquatic noodles, and water resistance. The following outcomes were measured: half-mile walk/run, isometric muscle strength, timed floor to stand 3-meter test, and motor skills. Complaints of pain or injury were systematically collected. Significant improvements in the half-mile walk/run were observed, but not for secondary outcomes of strength or motor skills. The mean program attendance was 80%, and no injury was reported. Children with disabilities may improve their cardiorespiratory endurance after a group aquatic aerobic exercise program with a high adult:child ratio and specific goals to maintain training heart rates.
Fragala-Pinkham M, Haley SM, O'Neil ME.
Group aquatic aerobic exercise for children with disabilities.
Dev Med Child Neurol. 2008 Nov;50(11):822-7.
Research Center for Children with Special Health Care Needs, Franciscan Hospital for Children, Brighton, MA, USA.
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