How do you go about choosing the correct level of immersion for therapeutic purposes during an aquatic therapy session?
Answer
Level of immersion can be used across the gamut for a variety of diseases and disorders. The deeper that you go, the more offloaded that you will be. So, if I am at the level of my belly button, I am going to be at about 50% weightbearing. If I am at the level of my xiphoid process, I am going to be around 60 to 70% weightbearing. If I am at the level of my shoulders, I am going to be about 90% offloaded. I can completely offload a patient by adding a buoyancy device and taking them into water that is too deep for them to touch.
You can use those levels as different variations for therapy. If I want to work with somebody who doesn't have a lot of muscular strength - that isn't able to perform a normalized gait pattern on land or even in waist deep water - I might offload them completely by taking them into the deep water. I might have them perform the action of that specified gait pattern that I want. Maybe I want to work on dorsiflexion, or maybe I need to work on hip or knee flexion or whatever it may be. I can do that in deep water and have them strengthen those muscles via drag resistance and then slowly work them into more shallow water.
Lori Sherlock, MS, ATRIC, AEA Fitness Specialist, CSCS
Lori A. Sherlock is an assistant professor in the School of Medicine at West Virginia University. She coordinates and teaches the aquatic therapy curriculum within the division of Exercise Physiology and is proud to state that it is the only one like it in the nation. Lori is an Aquatic Exercise Association trainer and a member of the Aquatic Exercise Association’s Research Committee. She contributes often to the AKWA magazine and has a great interest in furthering the field of aquatics through research. Lori has also presented for the APTA, NSCA, International Aquatic Fitness Conference as well as the World Aquatic Health Conference.
Related Courses
1https://www.physicaltherapy.com/pt-ceus/course/20-novel-aquatic-therapy-ideas-487820 Novel Aquatic Therapy Ideas for the Musculoskeletal Therapist: Part 1Therapists who work in the pool need special training to be safe and effective inthe aquatic realm. But sometimes, even the best providers fall into patternedbehavior when working with musculoskeletal patients in water. This course willallow you to step outside the box and become inspired to think creatively in the pool.auditory, textual, visual
Therapists who work in the pool need special training to be safe and effective inthe aquatic realm. But sometimes, even the best providers fall into patternedbehavior when working with musculoskeletal patients in water. This course willallow you to step outside the box and become inspired to think creatively in the pool.
2https://www.physicaltherapy.com/pt-ceus/course/20-novel-aquatic-therapy-ideas-487920 Novel Aquatic Therapy Ideas for the Musculoskeletal Therapist: Part 2This course is designed for therapists working in aquatic environments, providing specialized training for safety and effectiveness. It addresses the tendency of even skilled providers to develop patterns when working with musculoskeletal patients in water. Join this course to break away from conventional approaches, fostering creative thinking and inspiration in the pool.auditory, textual, visual
This course is designed for therapists working in aquatic environments, providing specialized training for safety and effectiveness. It addresses the tendency of even skilled providers to develop patterns when working with musculoskeletal patients in water. Join this course to break away from conventional approaches, fostering creative thinking and inspiration in the pool.
3https://www.physicaltherapy.com/pt-ceus/course/what-doctor-never-told-you-3601What the Doctor Never Told You About Osteoporosis and AquaticsWhile Osteoporosis has been categorized as a predominantly older woman’s condition, the fact that it is the cause of 2 million fractures a year, makes it a serious health concern. Typically, the concept of weight-bearing exercise does not lend itself to aquatic interventions, but the current literature is compelling for the use of water as a beneficial alternative for the osteoporosis individual. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA.auditory, textual, visual
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4https://www.physicaltherapy.com/pt-ceus/course/introduction-to-aquatic-therapy-back-3614Introduction to Aquatic Therapy-Back to BasicsThis course will link the therapeutic benefits with the unique properties of water allowing the participant to recognize patients who would most benefit from aquatic therapeutic interventions. This course is intended for the therapist new to aquatic therapy or therapists who refer to aquatic therapy programs and want an improved understanding of the therapeutic value of adding aquatic therapy into a patient’s rehabilitation program. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA.auditory, textual, visual
This course will link the therapeutic benefits with the unique properties of water allowing the participant to recognize patients who would most benefit from aquatic therapeutic interventions. This course is intended for the therapist new to aquatic therapy or therapists who refer to aquatic therapy programs and want an improved understanding of the therapeutic value of adding aquatic therapy into a patient’s rehabilitation program. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA.
5https://www.physicaltherapy.com/pt-ceus/course/aquatic-therapy-for-cardiopulmonary-compromise-490620 Novel Aquatic Therapy Ideas for Cardiopulmonary Compromise: Part 1Therapists who work in the pool need special training to be safe and effective in the aquatic realm. But sometimes, even the best providers fall into patterned behavior when working with patients with cardiopulmonary compromise in water. This course allows you to step outside the box and become inspired to think creatively in the pool. This webinar is also part of an ongoing series “20 Novel Aquatic Therapy Ideas” by Andrea Salzman, Director of Aquatic Therapy University.auditory, textual, visual
Therapists who work in the pool need special training to be safe and effective in the aquatic realm. But sometimes, even the best providers fall into patterned behavior when working with patients with cardiopulmonary compromise in water. This course allows you to step outside the box and become inspired to think creatively in the pool. This webinar is also part of an ongoing series “20 Novel Aquatic Therapy Ideas” by Andrea Salzman, Director of Aquatic Therapy University.
