Hands On Physical Therapy in Toms River, NJ is proud to partner with Toms River Fitness and Aquatic Center to provide aquatic therapy at their premier facility located at 213 Route 37 East . The facility run by the Lynnworth’s is like an extended family of Hands On Physical Therapy.
The facility is nationally recognized for its Aquatic Center. Aquatic therapy is provided in a large sixlane 75-foot co-ed pool. The depth of the water allows therapy to be provided in 4 or 5 feet of water with an easy step with rail access or chair lift access. The water is kept at a temperature of 82 degrees which is ideal for aquatic therapy. The aquatic therapy is provided by Hands On Physical Therapy staff on a rotation basis.
The initial evaluation is provided at either Hands On Physical Therapy facility so a treatment plan can be derived with keeping your goals in mind. Treatments are based on endurance and can be as long as an hour in length. Please arrive at the pool 15 min ahead of your appointment time and check in at the front desk where the friendly staff will guide you to the locker room so you can change into your swim attire.
Aquatic Physical Therapy
Beth Bahm, PTA
Aquatic physical therapy covers a wide span of activities. It is a skilled intervention provided by a therapist that has the training to address the specific needs of an individual in a pool setting.
It can address a multitude of issues for patients with functional problems as well as specific issues like post-operative rehab to improve strength and range of motion. It can address cardiovascular conditioning, neuromuscular reeducation, musculoskeletal issues, and metabolic concerns, particularly for individuals who can’t exercise on land due to gravity and weakness or any limitation that prevents a good cardiovascular workout on land.
Gravity issues on land can consist of someone who has basic osteoarthritis from aging where the individual cannot exercise at a high enough exercise intensity on land because it is too painful and the joints hurt too much. In the water, with the unloading from the buoyancy principle, we allow the individual to take control and exercise at a much higher cardiovascular level, which also gets them stronger and provides pain relief.
Aquatic therapy also allows an individual’s metabolic system to be challenged enough so glucose and insulin can achieve a better balance resulting in improved health, weight loss, and improved management of type 2 diabetes.
Aquatic physical therapy is especially effective for individuals with spine issues, degenerative joint disease, and back injuries from work or vocational activities, as well as overweight individuals. Balance problems are also addressed in aquatic therapy as we take advantage of longer reaction time due to buoyancy from the water.
Aquatic physical therapy utilizes different equipment, including noodles, waist floats, underwater weights, and floatation dumbbells. Floatation provides active assistance to some exercises and it can also provide drag for resistance to some exercises.
A typical warmup is water walking followed by target strengthening, ROM, or cardiovascular interval training. This is then followed by a cooldown of stretching, and the whole program can last up to 60 minutes.
The exercises can be closed chain where feet are in contact with the pool or open chain where feet are not in contact with the bottom of the pool. One may start holding the side of the pool and eventually progress to not holding the side of the pool, pending an individual’s needs and progress.
As we age, we start to get joint discomfort. Aquatics is a nice addition to any program. Call Hands On Physical therapy in Toms River, NJ, today to get started.
