Aquatic Rehab

Regain Movement, Strength & Confidence with Aquatic Rehab.

Using the benefits of warm water to help you move better and recover faster!

Pre and Post-Operative Care

Whether you’re preparing for surgery or just beginning rehabilitation, the water provides gentle resistance, buoyancy and hydrostatic pressure to make your road to recovery feel lighter.

Increase circulation and decrease pain with impact-free movement. Aquatic Rehab in a rejuvenating and relaxing treatment in a 90° heated therapy pool.

Manual Therapy
Stretching and Strengthening
Balance and Stability
Cardiovascular Endurance

Aquatic rehab after surgery Smith Physical Therapy+ Crystal Lake, IL

Pain Management

Aquatic rehab has been proven effective and efficient for non-invasive acute and chronic pain management.

Immersion in water promotes vascular circulation throughout the body. Increased blood flow to the injured body part can help deliver essential nutrients and oxygen to the tissues, facilitating the healing process and reducing inflammation. Water provides buoyancy, which reduces the effects of gravity on the body.

This buoyant force counteracts the downward pressure on the spine and other joints, effectively reducing the weight-bearing load on the body. This leads to decreased pain and allows for greater ease of movement during exercises and in everyday life.

Manual Therapy
Stretching and Strengthening
Balance and Stability

Balance and Gait Training

The water is a safe place to practice balance skills and progress walking without the fear of falling.

Water creates buoyancy, which reduces the stress on your feet, knees, low back and hips. Your balance is challenged because the water resists movement, making you work harder to perform activities.

Video Analysis
Balance Testing
Stability Training

heated pool therapy for balance and gait Smith Physical Therapy+ Crystal Lake, IL

Athletic Conditioning

Aquatic conditioning opens athletes up to a variety of new exercises to enhance their performance on and off the field.

Water provides resistance and allows athletes to work different muscle groups by improving overall stability, flexibility, and strength. Adding a water routine is a good adjunct to a land-based conditioning program.

Video Analysis
Plyometric Training
Circuit Training/HIIT Workouts
Core Strengthening

You were made to move!

Learn more about how the benefits of Aquatic Rehab Therapy can help you move better and recover faster!

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Aquatic Therapy FAQs

What is Aquatic Physical Therapy?Carla Baldwin2024-08-26T10:59:32-05:00

What is Aquatic Physical Therapy?

Aquatic physical therapy is essentially the same as traditional, land-based physical therapy except that it takes place in a warm water therapy pool instead of a gym.

What are the advantages of aquatic PT?Carla Baldwin2024-08-26T10:59:32-05:00

What are the advantages of aquatic PT?

There are many advantages to aquatic PT, but the most significant is how the properties of water allow for therapy in a low gravity environment. This significantly reduces pain experienced with movement, and allows an individual who may be limited on land to safely do much more in the water.

Do I need to know how to swim to do aquatic physical therapy?Carla Baldwin2024-08-26T10:59:32-05:00

Do I need to know how to swim to do aquatic physical therapy?

Nope! It is not unusual to have a patient who either does not know how to swim or has a disability that would make it impossible to swim safely. All patients are one-on-one with a therapist in the water throughout the session with a wide variety of flotation devices available to suit the exercise. No one is asked to do more in the water than they feel comfortable with.

Will I be required to put my face in the water or get my hair wet?Carla Baldwin2024-08-26T10:59:32-05:00

Will I be required to put my face in the water or get my hair wet?

You will not be required to get your face wet. Some patients like to swim as a part of their rehabilitation, but it is not a requirement. It is not unusual for the back of the head to get wet while floating in the water, but it is perfectly okay to wear a swim cap.

Do I have to wear a bathing suit, or are there alternatives?Carla Baldwin2024-08-26T10:59:32-05:00

Do I have to wear a bathing suit, or are there alternatives?

What you wear in the water is entirely up to you. One piece bathing suits are most commonly worn, but if you’re more comfortable in shorts and T-shirt, that’s okay too. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable.

How warm is the water?Carla Baldwin2024-08-26T10:59:32-05:00

How warm is the water?

The pool is generally between 91° and 92° degrees. While this is significantly warmer than an average public pool, it is still a few degrees below average body temperature. The pool room is heated to 86° to 87° degrees which helps maintain body heat. Some patients who may be more susceptible to cold elect to wear wet suit tops over their bathing suit to retain some heat.

If I’m on crutches and have a weight-bearing restriction ,how does that work in the water?Carla Baldwin2024-08-26T10:59:32-05:00

If I’m on crutches and have a weight-bearing restriction ,how does that work in the water?

Absolutely! Once the surgical incision is healed and you’ve been given clearance from the surgeon, the pool is a great place for rehab. The warm water promotes flexibility, and buoyancy contributes to minimally invasive movement as you work to regain function.