Why Aquatic Therapy is Good For Sports Injuries
When it comes to injuries sustained during athletic activities, there are many different types of ailments that can occur. Some people recover quickly while others take longer to heal. One of the biggest questions that arise from these injuries is how long it takes to fully recover.
The length of recovery varies depending on the type of injury sustained. A torn ligament, such as a hamstring, typically takes 3 to 6 months to heal completely. However, a muscle tear or strain can take up to 9 months to heal. In addition, some injuries, like shoulder dislocation, can take anywhere from one week to several months to heal.
The good news is that aquatic therapy accelerates the rehabilitation time and patients see improvements in a shorter amount of time.
Advantages of aquatic therapy for an injured athlete
Aquatic therapy is becoming increasingly popular among athletes and those recovering from injuries. Water provides many benefits including increased mobility, decreased inflammation, improved range of motion, and increased blood flow. These are all factors that make aquatic therapy ideal for injured athletes.
In addition, there are several advantages to aquatic therapy over traditional forms of physical therapy such as dry land exercises. Patients are able to move freely while being immersed in warm water without experiencing pain. This makes aquatic therapy one of the best ways to rehabilitate an injury because it allows the person to move without having to worry about pain.
Other benefits of aquatic therapy include:
- Buoyancy: The buoyancy of the water takes the weight off your body, which means less impact and strain are placed on your body during exercises. This makes exercises underwater easier and allows you to perform some movements that you wouldn’t be able to on land.
- Resistance: Water provides more resistance than air does, and it does this without the full weight of your body. When combined with the buoyancy of the water, you can perform functional exercises while improving your range of motion and strength.
- Increased circulation: The heat and hydrostatic pressure of the water increase blood circulation and flexibility while decreasing swelling.
What injuries can benefit from water therapy?
Hydrotherapy can treat a wide range of physical injuries, including:
- Bruising and swelling
- Back pain
- Musculoskeletal conditions – such as ankle sprains, groin sprains, and frozen shoulder
- Post-surgery for conditions like ACL reconstruction, knee replacement, and hip replacement
Why choose Rehab For Life?
Rehab for Life is the only therapy clinic in the Tri-State area to have two adjustable, warm water, Endless Pools utilizing remote control variable currents and treadmills. Our pools are expertly designed to facilitate easy entry/exit from each pool with our hydraulic pool lift. Clients use these unique features and other specialized aquatic equipment coupled with the expert guidance of our knowledgeable therapists to help them achieve their therapy goals and vastly improve their quality of life.
If you’re interested in learning more about aquatic therapy in the Evansville area, please contact us. We’re here to help you every step of the way!
