The body, mind and emotions are of course all connected, and what affects one affects the others. For me, my time swimming laps, doing water exercises, and water walking brings everything into a better harmony. Floating and feeling the buoyancy makes my physical, mental and emotional parts all let go of the stresses, frustrations, and tensions.
Water therapy is a holistic health approach.
The aquamarine color of the pools is uplifting and relaxing too. After an hour or more in the pool I feel refreshed.
I'm writing about this today so that others who have chronic health conditions, painful joints, back injuries, mental and emotional stress and frustrations, and other lack of harmony or well-being will try aquatherapy.
Most pools have a hoyer lift, so if someone is using a walker to ambulate or a wheelchair to get around, you can still get into a pool with the assistance of another caring person. I've seen people who are recovering from strokes assisted into the pools, where a person acting to assist helps them with floating and exercise. They say floating in the water is the best part of their day!
I read Christopher Reeve's book, "Still Me" that he wrote after the accident that paralyzed him. In the book he says that the times he felt the best were during his water therapy sessions, floating and feeling the buoyancy.
Showing posts with label water therapy exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label water therapy exercise. Show all posts
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Join Up for Water Walking - a Sweatless Workout
The scene is like a happy club of seniors visiting as they walk in chest high water up and down the Olympic size pool at my healthclub. Instead of going for a walk outdoors those of us with arthritic knees, joint surgeries, or other conditions join up for a walk in the pool.
As with many pools these days the Olympic length pool, 75 meters, is only 4.5 feet deep. Stripes on the bottom show where the lanes are, and during lap swimming times of the day there are floating dividers.
You can let the buoyancy of the water take the weight off of sore knees, hips or backs, and get a workout. My arthritic knees are pain free after an aquatic workout.
My local healthclub also has a 25 ft. by 35 ft. 88 degree pool that's great for loosening up the sore, stiff joints. Then there's the long pool where you can walk with your friends, chat, and catch up on their latest news. Just like a walk in the park, except it's in a pool.
People recovering from a variety of conditions find it helpful and fun. Those who are using walkers often find they can walk in the pool due to the buoyancy although they cannot walk on regular land.
Give it a try if you haven't already! Have fun and I hope it works for you too.
Readers, if you have a story about using water therapy for exercising I would be glad to post it here on the internet as a guest post. You can mail it to me, Kristi, at kgott@charter.net. In the subject line you might put "caregiversbeacon." Thanks!
Best wishes, Kristi
As with many pools these days the Olympic length pool, 75 meters, is only 4.5 feet deep. Stripes on the bottom show where the lanes are, and during lap swimming times of the day there are floating dividers.
You can let the buoyancy of the water take the weight off of sore knees, hips or backs, and get a workout. My arthritic knees are pain free after an aquatic workout.
My local healthclub also has a 25 ft. by 35 ft. 88 degree pool that's great for loosening up the sore, stiff joints. Then there's the long pool where you can walk with your friends, chat, and catch up on their latest news. Just like a walk in the park, except it's in a pool.
People recovering from a variety of conditions find it helpful and fun. Those who are using walkers often find they can walk in the pool due to the buoyancy although they cannot walk on regular land.
Give it a try if you haven't already! Have fun and I hope it works for you too.
Readers, if you have a story about using water therapy for exercising I would be glad to post it here on the internet as a guest post. You can mail it to me, Kristi, at kgott@charter.net. In the subject line you might put "caregiversbeacon." Thanks!
Best wishes, Kristi
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Caregiver Tips for Assisting Seniors Who Have Arthritic Knees
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons offers an overview of the most common type of knee arthritis, osteoarthritis, and suggestions for treatment. Caregivers for seniors who are in the early stages of arthritis may be using nonsurgical treatments for arthritic knees. This can include lifestyle modifications such losing weight, switching from high impact exercise to swimming or bicycling, and avoiding movements such as climbing stairs.
The website explains that a doctor or physical therapist can provide advice regarding beneficial exercises. Supportive devices that can be used include a knee brace, inserts for shoes to provide additional cushioning, or using a cane. Elastic bandages to reduce swelling, ice, heat, and liniments are sometimes used to reduce pain.
Water therapy exercise is becoming popular for people with arthritis wherever a pool is available. Group classes of water aerobics provide a chance for people to exercise gently with the help of the buoyancy of water. Often a jacuzzi is nearby too, and the heated water is another way people reduce arthritis pain.
At our local pool and jacuzzi the water aerobics classes include many seniors in their 70's, 80's, and even 90's who are exercising arthritic joints with slow, smooth movements in water. There is also a water walking lane. The water in the pool is 4 feet deep, and in the water walking lane people walk their laps, just like they would on a track, but in the water.
The website explains that a doctor or physical therapist can provide advice regarding beneficial exercises. Supportive devices that can be used include a knee brace, inserts for shoes to provide additional cushioning, or using a cane. Elastic bandages to reduce swelling, ice, heat, and liniments are sometimes used to reduce pain.
Water therapy exercise is becoming popular for people with arthritis wherever a pool is available. Group classes of water aerobics provide a chance for people to exercise gently with the help of the buoyancy of water. Often a jacuzzi is nearby too, and the heated water is another way people reduce arthritis pain.
At our local pool and jacuzzi the water aerobics classes include many seniors in their 70's, 80's, and even 90's who are exercising arthritic joints with slow, smooth movements in water. There is also a water walking lane. The water in the pool is 4 feet deep, and in the water walking lane people walk their laps, just like they would on a track, but in the water.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
