the aquatic therapist

Aquatic Therapy University (ATU) classes, trainings & continuing education (2012)

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

More details at: www.swimatu.com

Aquatic exercise programme for children with autism spectrum disorders

Fragala-Pinkham MA, Haley SM, O'Neil ME. Group swimming and aquatic exercise programme for children with autism spectrum disorders: A pilot study. Dev Neurorehabil. 2011;14(4):230-41.

Source

Research Center for Children with Special Health Care Needs, Franciscan Hospital for Children , Boston, MA , USA.

Abstract

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.

Does Aquatic Vertical Traction Change Spinal Height and Back Pain?

 

 

Simmerman SM, Sizer PS, Dedrick GS, Apte GG, Brismée JM. Immediate changes in spinal height and pain after aquatic vertical traction in patients with persistent low back symptoms: a crossover clinical trial.PM&R. 2011 May;3(5):447-57.

Source

Cleburne Physical Therapy, Cleburne, TX(⁎).

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the effect of aquatic vertical traction on spinal height, pain intensity, and centralization response compared with a land-based supine flexion position for patients with low back pain and signs of nerve root compression.

DESIGN:

Single-blind, repeated-measures crossover design.

SETTING:

Outpatient physical therapy clinic.

SUBJECTS:

Ninety-eight subjects were recruited using consecutive sampling, with 28 men and 32 women of a mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of 59.6 ± 11.6 years completing testing.

INTERVENTION:

Each subject participated in 2 sessions that consisted of loaded walking for 15 minutes, followed by either 15 minutes of land-based supine position or 15 minutes of aquatic vertical traction.

MEASUREMENTS:

Spinal height change, measured using a commercial stadiometer, was determined after completing loaded walking and after each intervention.

RESULTS:

The mean ± SD height change of 4.99 ± 2.88 mm after aquatic vertical traction was similar to that of 4.21 ± 2.53 mm after the land-based supine flexion (P = .0969). Paired t-test indicated that both interventions resulted in significant increased height (P < .0001). Decreases in pain after aquatic intervention (2.7 ± 2.1 cm) were significantly greater than decreases after land intervention (1.7 ± 1.7 cm; P = .0034), and centralization of symptoms was more pronounced after aquatic vertical suspension compared with the supine land-based flexion condition (P < .0001). A significant correlation between height change and both pain reduction (r = 0.39; P = .001) and centralization (r = 0.29; P = .013) was observed for the aquatic intervention only.

CONCLUSION:

Although both the aquatic and land interventions produced significant increases in overall spinal height, the aquatic intervention produced greater pain relief and centralization response in subjects with low back pain and signs of nerve root compression.

Aquatic Integrative Therapy offers a complementary treatment for.... Fertility?

Aquatic Integrative Therapy offers a complementary treatment for fertility and a profound means of supporting the psychological, spiritual and physical needs of a woman in the pre-conception process says aquatic therapist and teacher, David Sawyer.  Here are just some of the benefits of IAT he has observed and described over the past decade:

• a support to the pregnancy
• the relief of physical discomfort
• a bonding opportunity between mother and prenate
• a means to clear energetic patterns in the ancestral lineage
• gives the father a taste of the world in which his baby is living

Read case study

Comprehensive Aquatic Therapy, 3rd edition (May 2011 release)

 

Hot off the presses!

 

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. 

• Get yours shipped today
  
• View contents

 

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.

Repercussions of training and detraining by water-based exercise on functional fitness and quality of life

Come to Pool Therapy for the Female Client (May 13-14, Minneapolis) for more ideas about aquatic therapy for pregnancy, breast cancer, osteoporis, SI dysfunction, and fibromyalgia...

 

 

Bocalini DS, Serra AJ, Rica RL, Santos LD. Repercussions of training and detraining by water-based exercise on functional fitness and quality of life: a short-term follow-up in healthy older women. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2010;65(12):1305-9.

Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. bocalini@fcr.epm.br

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of short-term exercise detraining on the functional fitness of older women after a 12-week water-based exercise (WE) program.

METHODS: Healthy older women (trained (TR) group) were submitted to 12 weeks WE (three 45 min sessions per week) followed by a 6-week detraining period. A group of aged-matched women without any exercise training (UN group) were evaluated during the same period. The aerobic power, measured by VO₂max and 800 meters performance, and the neuromuscular fitness and quality of life were evaluated. All assessments were made at baseline, after 12 weeks of training and after 4 and 6 weeks of detraining.

RESULTS: No changes were found for the UN group during the follow-up study, but WE induced significant improvement in aerobic capacity, neuromuscular fitness and quality of life score. However, the upper and lower body strength, agility, flexibility, and body balance returned to UN levels (p > 0.05) after 6 weeks of detraining.

CONCLUSIONS: The results confirmed that 12 weeks of WE improves the functional fitness parameters and quality of life of older women. However, after a short detraining period of 4-6 weeks, the neuromuscular parameters and the quality of life score returns to baseline or untrained subject levels.

Fetal cardiotocography before and after water aerobics during pregnancy

Looking for more treatment ideas for the women in your practice? Come to Pool Therapy for the Female Client (May 13-14, Minneapolis) for ideas about aquatic therapy for pregnancy, breast cancer, osteoporis, SI dysfunction, fibromyalgia and more!

 

 

Silveira C, Pereira BG, Cecatti JG, Cavalcante SR, Pereira RI. Fetal cardiotocography before and after water aerobics during pregnancy. Reprod Health. 2010 Aug 31;7:23.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas-SP, Brazil. cecatti@unicamp.br.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of moderate aerobic physical activity in water on fetal cardiotocography patterns in sedentary pregnant women.

METHOD: In a non-randomized controlled trial, 133 previously sedentary pregnant women participated in multiple regular sessions of water aerobics in a heated swimming pool. Cardiotocography was performed for 20 minutes before and just after the oriented exercise. Cardiotocography patterns were analyzed pre- and post-exercise according to gestational age groups (24-27, 28-31, 32-35 and 36-40 weeks). Student's t and Wilcoxon, and McNemar tests were used, respectively, to analyze numerical and categorical variables.

RESULTS: No significant variations were found between pre- and post-exercise values of fetal heart rate (FHR), number of fetal body movements (FM) or accelerations (A), FM/A ratio or the presence of decelerations. Variability in FHR was significantly higher following exercise only in pregnancies of 24-27 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS: Moderate physical activity in water was not associated with any significant alterations in fetal cardiotocography patterns, which suggests no adverse effect on the fetus.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2936287/?tool=pubmed

 

1.5 Million to Investigate Aquatic Therapy for Patients with SCIs: Way to Go, Paula & Peter!

Christopher Reeve made us aware of what was possible with aquatic rehab. Before his death, he had experienced some ground-breaking moments in the pool.

So, where do we go from here?

Well, Paula Richley Geigle PT, PhD and Peter Gorman MD (Kernan Rehabilitation Hospital, Baltimore, MD) are leading the way.

The Department of Defense has granted 1.5 million dollars to investigate aquatic therapy vs. land-based rehab for SCI.

Their study will compare the effects of 3 months of 3x/week aquatic therapy to a robotically assisted aerobic locomotor training exercise (Lokomat).

The study will focus on functional ambulatory ability and cardiovascular fitness in individuals with chronic motor incomplete spinal cord injury (MISCI).

Outcome measures include: gait parameters, speed, distance; V02; Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury (WISCI II); Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM); and glucose tolerance.

A second site is Shepherd Center (Atlanta, GA) with Leslie VanHiel BME, MSPT, CCRC, and Keith Tansey MD, PhD as collaborators.

 

The Benefits of Aquatic Therapy for Special Needs Children

  By Cindy Freedman & Ailene Tisser
(Angelfish Therapy)

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

Research: Effects of pool-based exercise in fibromyalgia symptomatology and sleep quality

Calandre EP, Rodriguez-Claro ML, Rico-Villademoros F, Vilchez JS, Hidalgo J, Delgado-Rodriguez A. Effects of pool-based exercise in fibromyalgia symptomatology and sleep quality: a prospective randomised comparison between stretching and Ai Chi. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2009 Sep-Oct;27(5 Suppl 56):S21-8.

Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad de Granada, Spain. calandre@gmail.com

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of two pool-based physical therapies, stretching and Ai Chi, in fibromyalgia symptomatology and sleep quality.

METHODS: Eighty-one patients, randomly assigned to stretching (n=39) or Ai Chi (n=42), received 18 physiotherapy sessions and were evaluated at baseline, at treatment termination, and after 4 and 12 weeks of follow-up. Main outcome measures were the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Secondary outcome measures included the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the SF-12 Health Survey (SF-12). Data analysis was done with repeated measures ANOVA and effect size estimation.

RESULTS: No differences were found between groups but significant reduction in the FIQ and the PSQI scores were observed in Ai Chi but not in stretching group, with larger effect sizes and longer effect duration on sleep measures. BDI scores decreased in stretching but not in Ai Chi group with small effect sizes. Trait-anxiety scores decreased in both groups also with small effect sizes. The mental component summary of the SF-12 increased only in stretching group with effect sizes moderate to large.

CONCLUSIONS: Although no global differences were found between groups, Ai Chi significantly improved fibromyalgia symptomatology and sleep quality, whereas stretching only improved subjects' psychological well-being.