Aquatic therapy is specially designed water activities that help children improve their strength, flexibility and balance. At Children’s Health℠, our physical therapists have specialized training in pediatric aquatic therapy, providing skilled, hands-on care that’s tailored to your child’s needs and abilities. We work closely with you and your child to develop personalized treatment goals and create fun exercise programs to engage and motivate your child.
Overview
Aquatic therapy, also called hydrotherapy, is physical therapy that takes place in a heated pool. These specialized exercises use water’s buoyancy and resistance to help children build strength and endurance, increase range of motion, reduce pain and increase tolerance to activity.
Our team designs care plans that meet your child where they are, taking into account their abilities and goals. Children play and exercise in the water with a physical therapist and physical therapy aide. Our specialized pools:
Are heated to between 90 to 94 degrees Fahrenheit
Are adjustable from 6 inches to 6 feet in depth
Incorporate treadmills and other exercise equipment
Benefits
For children who have difficulty moving on land, hydrotherapy offers an alternative to traditional physical therapy. Aquatic therapy keeps children engaged and provides benefits such as:
Increased mobility. Water’s buoyancy supports your child’s weight, making it easier for them to move. Your child can improve their physical function with less pain.
Safe muscle strengthening. Exercising in water provides resistance without the need for weights, offering a safe way to build muscle. Hydrotherapy offers exercise with less stress on joints and muscles.
Enhanced muscle relaxation. Our therapy pools at Children’s Health stay between 90 to 94 degrees Fahrenheit. Warm water helps widen blood vessels, increasing blood flow to muscles to help them relax. The heated pool also helps with chronic pain, high muscle tone and spasticity.
More variety in exercises. With greater freedom of movement in the water, your child can do exercises that may not be possible on land.
Increased sensory input. Water’s natural pressure provides gentle stimulation with movement, improving awareness of body position and movement to help with motor skills.
Rewarding exercise setting. Playing in a pool is a natural motivator for children, and our physical therapists have specialized training in creating activities that engage children.
Side Effects
The buoyancy of the water makes aquatic therapy safe for most children. After hydrotherapy, your child might feel tired or have minor muscle soreness. These side effects are normal as your child works to build strength during aquatic therapy.
Risks
As with any water activity, there is a small risk of drowning. Our team never leaves your child unattended. A physical therapist and a physical therapy aide accompany them at all times in the pool area.
What to Expect
In your child’s first session or two of hydrotherapy, our physical therapists help them get comfortable in the water and with the equipment. These trial sessions build trust so your child can get the most out of every visit.
What to expect during Pediatric Aquatic Therapy
Typically, your child’s hydrotherapy session will last 30 minutes to an hour depending on their age, abilities and goals. Your child will likely have one aquatic and one land session each week.
During your child’s session, they will probably do exercises that they do on land, too. The water changes how easy or hard their exercises are, adding a new component to therapy. We’ll use exercises to promote:
Walking
Standing balance
Sitting balance
Kneeling
Squatting
Splashing with arms and kicking with legs
Climbing stairs
Stretching
How to Prepare
You should talk to your child about aquatic therapy a few days before their session if they are age 5 or older or just the day before if they are a toddler. If your child has a fear of water, you should work on getting them more comfortable in the water. You might splash in the bathtub at home or practice getting their head or hair wet.
You should pack a bag for your child’s therapy that includes:
A swimsuit
A towel
Orthotic devices (if your child uses them)
Items your child likes to use in the pool, such as goggles or water shoes
A swim diaper (if they are not potty trained yet)
Please ask your physical therapist any questions you have about aquatic therapy. You might ask:
How many times each week does my child need hydrotherapy?
How long will my child need aquatic therapy?
Are there hydrotherapy exercises that I can do with my child outside of these sessions?
Doctors and Providers
Physical therapists at Children’s Health have special training and experience in caring for children both in and out of the water. They help children with a wide range of conditions build strength, endurance and range of motion so they can move and play.