Question
What is the typical temperature of a therapeutic pool, and what populations would benefit from a cooler temperature pool?
Answer
Typical temperature of a therapy pool would probably be anywhere between 89 to 94 maybe even 96 degrees. So that is your basic thermoneutral to warm water pool. A cooler temperature would be anywhere from 79 degrees to 85 degrees. So that would be more of your recreational pool. When we talk about individuals with MS in particular, they are going to really benefit from working out in a cooler temperature pool. If you work them out in a warm body of water, they tend to be done for the rest of the day. Energy wise, they are completely depleted. You might even see that depletion carry on into a 48 hour time period.
Fibromyalgia patients definitely do better in warmer water. I highly recommend not going below 90 degrees with individuals with Fibromyalgia or any chronic pain condition in general, because it is going to elicit a greater relaxation effect. That is going to assist in you doing anything you want in that therapy time. So, definitely go to a warmer pool with this population.
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