the aquatic therapist

Aquatic Therapist Alert: You don't even know you're thirsty...You spend too much time in the pool.

DRINK. DRINK. DRINK. Everyone tells you to drink water when you work in the pool. But, dang it, you are never thirsty. So the day rolls on with nary a sip.

Well guys, your body is tricking you into a low grade, long term dehydrated state with serious consequences.

Why? Well, we all understand the effects of hydrostatic pressure on edema control in the legs.We even get the fact that this volume shift creates an extra pre-load on the heart ... in effect making each contraction more powerful.

What we fail to realize is that this same shift in volume creates a sustained stimulation of the cardiopulmonary baroreceptors and reduction of a dipsogenic (ahem... fancy term for thirst) stimulus.

This volume-induced stimuli of  fluid receptors sends a message to your brain saying

Control of an Exoskeleton for Realization of Aquatic Therapy Effects

Kyoungchul Kong;   Hyosang Moon;   Doyoung Jeon;   Tomizuka, M.; Dept. of Mech. Eng., Univ. of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA. Control of an Exoskeleton for Realization of Aquatic Therapy Effects. Mechatronics, IEEE/ASME Transactions on. 2010; 15(2): 191-200.

Exoskeletons are attracting great attention as a new means of rehabilitation devices. In such applications, control algorithms of exoskeletons are often inspired by nature for natural and effective assistance for patients. In this paper, a control algorithm inspired by aquatic therapy is introduced.

Aquatic therapy provides various beneficial effects for rehabilitation based on useful properties of water, e.g., buoyancy and drag. The proposed controller calculates joint torques equivalent to the buoyant and drag forces.

Then, an exoskeleton-type assistive device generates the calculated joint torques to provide the similar effects as aquatic therapy.

In this paper, the Sogang University biomedical assist robot is utilized as a testbed. This paper also discusses the mechanical impedance of actuators, which obstructs implementation of controllers in practice. The resistive forces generated by actuators are precisely modeled and compensated to realize the control algorithm inspired by aquatic therapy correctly and effectively.

Aquatic Therapy Versus Conventional Land-Based Therapy for Parkinson's Disease: An Open-Label Pilot Study

Jamile Vivas PhD, PT, Pablo Arias PhD and Javier Cudeiro PhD, MD. Aquatic Therapy Versus Conventional Land-Based Therapy for Parkinson's Disease: An Open-Label Pilot Study. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. August 2011, 2(8): 1202-1210

Abstract

Objectives

To assess and compare 2 different protocols of physiotherapy (land or water therapy) for people with Parkinson's disease (PD) focused on postural stability and self-movement, and to provide methodological information regarding progression within the program for a future larger trial.

Design

Randomized, controlled, open-label pilot trial.

Setting

Outpatients, Parkinson's disease Center of Ferrol - Galicia (Spain).

Participants

Individuals (N=11) with idiopathic PD in stages 2 or 3 according to the Hoehn and Yahr Scale completed the investigation (intervention period plus follow-up).

Interventions

After baseline evaluations, participants were randomly assigned to a land-based therapy (active control group) or a water-based therapy (experimental group). Participants underwent individual sessions for 4 weeks, twice a week, for 45 minutes per session. Both interventions were matched in terms of exercise features, which were structured in stages with clear objectives and progression criteria to pass to the next phase.

Main Outcome Measures

Participants underwent a first baseline assessment, a posttest immediately after 4 weeks of intervention, and a follow-up assessment after 17 days. Evaluations were performed OFF-dose after withholding medication for 12 hours. Functional assessments included the Functional Reach Test (FRT), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the UPDRS, the 5-m walk test, and the Timed Up and Go test.

Results

A main effect of both therapies was seen for the FRT. Only the aquatic therapy group improved in the BBS and the UPDRS.

Conclusions

In this pilot study, physiotherapy protocols produced improvement in postural stability in PD that was significantly larger after aquatic therapy. The intervention protocols are shown to be feasible and seem to be of value in amelioration of postural stability–related impairments in PD. Some of the methodological aspects detailed here can be used to design larger controlled trials.

Key Words: Hydrotherapy; Parkinson disease; Physical therapy modalities; Rehabilitation

Abbreviations: BBS, Berg Balance Scale; FRT, Functional Reach Test; PD, Parkinson's disease; TUG, Timed Up and Go; UPDRS, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale

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

Wanted: Aquatic Therapist (Los Angeles, CA)

Water PT Specialists Inc

Posted: September 7, 2011

Address: Los Angeles, CA 90045

Occu: Aquatic therapy

Type: Full-time

Description: Aquatic Physical Therapist wanted full time Monday - Friday 10:00 - 5:00 pm. We work out of YMCA pools in Westchester and Culver City. We offer exclusively aquatic PT. Our therapists are in the pool with the patients doing both ther ex and manual therapy in the water. Position requires valid CA PT license and at least two years experience with orthopedic PT. No aquatic experience necessary, we will provide training. We are looking for someone confident and fun to join our team. Opportunity for growth and leadership as we are hoping to expand in the near future. We offer Blue Shield health benefits for full time employees.

Apply online at: http://aquaticnet.jobamatic.com/a/jbb/job-details/556512

Wanted: Aquatic Therapist (Fairfax, Virginia)

Northern Virginia Training Center

Posted:August 23, 2011

Address:Fairfax, VA 22032

Occu:Aquatic therapy

Type:Part-time

Description:The candidate selected for the part time( 20 hrs per week) Aquatic Therapist position will be responsible for providing services to the individuals who live at NVTC and to the community through the RCSC program. This person will plan, organize the aquatic therapy sessions with the RCSC individuals and provide consults with NVTC by implementing aquatic assessments.In this position the Aquatic Therapist will act as a lifeguard for both NVTC and the RCSC program as needed.In addition, the Aquatic Therapist will assist with maintaining a healthy and safe pool environment.

Apply online at:  http://aquaticnet.jobamatic.com/a/jbb/job-details/548557

Wanted: Aquatic Therapist (Simi Valley, California)

Sterling Physical Therapy & Aquatics

Posted:September 4, 2011

Address:2315 Kuehner Drive, Suites 114-117 Simi Valley CA

Occu:Aquatic therapy

Type:Full-time, Permanent

Description:Full time position, M-F 9am-6pm Aquatic therapy and land/manual as dictated by patient census. We have a new on-site SwimEx pool in it's own suite. All treatment is one-on-one 1hr. No group sessions offered. Responsible to evaluate and treat aquatic and land patients. Clinical Director is very supportive and open to new protocols and programs. Excellent opportunity to develop and excel in your specialty. Great pay, full benefits. Non physician owned facility. Pristine reputation in the medical community.

Apply online at: http://aquaticnet.jobamatic.com/a/jbb/job-details/555494

A potential benefit of aquatic therapy... bladder cancer???

File it under "I didn't want to know"...

Researchers found an increased risk of bladder cancer associated with exposure to water disinfection byproducts.

Risks tended to be higher for exposure through showering, bathing, and swimming in pools compared with drinking water. Download PDF here.

The ADA Compliant Pool - It all changes starting now

It's not déjà vu, but it does seem like we've been here before. Fresh from an industry-shaking experience with VGB, another government mandate has arrived which will force public pool operators to spend money on pool equipment/alterations they hadn't planned for. This one's called ADA. Read more Aqua Magazine article here.

For instance, did you know that the deepest water that an ADA-compliant ramp can let out into is.... (drum roll please) 30".

Most pools start at 3' or 3.5' deep, so this is a rule destined to drive people to choose lifts instead of ramps to be considered ADA compliant.

More aquatic therapy data here.

 

 

Would you hire this PT to provide aquatic therapy?

Whistleblowing hero... or neurotic ramblings? You decide.

http://factoidz.com/why-medicare-is-going-broke-and-wont-be-around-much-longer/