Aquatic Therapy
Aquatic therapy is the “use of water & specifically designed activity by qualified personnel to aid in the restoration, extension, maintenance of quality funcitions for Persons.”
Purposeful activites in the water have many physical, psychological, sensory, cognitive and recreational benefits.
- The health benefits of engaging in water activities include improvent in strength, endurance ,coordination, and balance.
- It develops a positive mental attitude and promotes self-esteem, preparing the child to successfully engage in interpersonal relations;
- It calms the child’s sensory system (examples are: reducing hyperactivity,Decreasing tactile sesitivity , decreasing self-stimulatory behaviours and repetitive behaviors,etc.) So that he can cope with everyday demands;
At our pool, occupational, physical and speech therapists see in the swimming pool a great number of children. These children have a wide range of abilities and limitations:
- All have sensory processing issues that have either been successfully or unsuccessfully addressed by land-based therapies.
- Some have self-stimulating behaviors, others have self-injurious behaviors, and yet others have no awareness of the danger that going to the deep end may bring.
- Some quickly adapt to the water and find immediate joy in being immersed.
- Others are clingy due to unfamiliarity with the new environment, yet willing to try given a little coaxing from their therapist and parents.
- Still others present with extreme fear,either due to traumatic experience (they previously got thrown in the pool and made to learn like other children) or to a
Severe sensory processing issue, such as gravitation insecurity.
