Healthy Times Newspaper | Your Online Source for Health and Wellness | AQUATIC THERAPY AND CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

Movement is an important part of a child’s development and learning. Through movement, children learn about themselves and the world around them. When the development of normal movement is impaired, a child's independence may be limited and performance of daily activities may consume more time and energy. When gross motor development is delayed a child could possibly benefit from exercise in an aquatic environment.

Aquatic Therapy is a specialized branch of Physical Therapy where individuals participate in exercise while in the water. Water provides buoyancy, resistance in all areas of movement, and a soothing environment. As a result, improvements are often noted in circulation, strength and endurance, balance and coordination, range of motion, and muscle tone.

Almost all children like to play in the water, and most parents of developmentally delayed children notice an increase in activity levels, as well as an increase in muscle tone, and even improved eating habits. With the relaxation effect of the water, children are happier and tend to vocalize more. Exercise in the water is increasingly being considered as an intervention therapy for children with cerebral palsy to improve levels of muscle strength, aerobic capacity, and gross motor function.

Aquatic Therapy focuses on building muscular strength of the limbs, torso, and neck through a variety of flexibility, muscle strength and range of motion exercises. Exercise in water may be suitable for children with CP, particularly for those with significant mobility impairments because the negative influence of poor balance, poor postural control, and excessive joint loading are reduced in the water. Aquatic Therapy also reduces muscle spasticity and joint pain. It is a setting for relaxing and self-healing and provides stimulation for those who would otherwise be difficult to reach.

Aquatic Therapy uses the buoyancy, warmth, and variable resistance of water for patients to get exercise of their weakened or spastic muscles. Water can provide an atmosphere of reduced body weight by up to 90%. The buoyancy of water decreases the influence of gravity and provides increased postural support. These characteristics may allow children with CP to exercise in water with more freedom than on land. The resistive forces of buoyancy and viscous drag permit a variety of aerobic and strengthening activities that can be easily modified to accommodate the wide range of motor abilities of children with CP.


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Aquatic Therapy for Children with Cerebral Palsy By Jan Vilums P.T.A. Movement is an important part of a child’s development and learning. Through movement, children learn about themselves and the world around them. When the development of normal movement is impaired, a child's independence may be limited and performance of daily activities may consume more time and energy. When gross motor development is delayed a child could possibly benefit from exercise in an aquatic environment. Aquatic Therapy is a specialized branch of Physical Therapy where individuals participate in exercise while in the water. Water provides buoyancy, resistance in all areas of movement, and a soothing environment. As a result, improvements are often noted in circulation, strength and endurance, balance and coordination, range of motion, and muscle tone. Almost all children like to play in the water, and most parents of developmentally delayed children notice an increase in activity levels, as well as an increase in muscle tone, and even improved eating habits. With the relaxation effect of the water, children are happier and tend to vocalize more. Exercise in the water is increasingly being considered as an intervention therapy for children with cerebral palsy to improve levels of muscle strength, aerobic capacity, and gross motor function. Aquatic Therapy focuses on building muscular strength of the limbs, torso, and neck through a variety of flexibility, muscle strength and range of motion exercises. Exercise in water may be suitable for children with CP, particularly for those with significant mobility impairments because the negative influence of poor balance, poor postural control, and excessive joint loading are reduced in the water. Aquatic Therapy also reduces muscle spasticity and joint pain. It is a setting for relaxing and self-healing and provides stimulation for those who would otherwise be difficult to reach. Aquatic Therapy uses the buoyancy, warmth, and variable resistance of water for patients to get exercise of their weakened or spastic muscles. Water can provide an atmosphere of reduced body weight by up to 90%. The buoyancy of water decreases the influence of gravity and provides increased postural support. These characteristics may allow children with CP to exercise in water with more freedom than on land. The resistive forces of buoyancy and viscous drag permit a variety of aerobic and strengthening activities that can be easily modified to accommodate the wide range of motor abilities of children with CP. Aquatic exercise can promote a motivating and socially stimulating therapy for children, whether done in a group setting or an individual basis. Games, races, and cooperative activities can be used to enhance engagement of children with CP in exercise. In some instances working one on one with a child may be more beneficial to ensure proper technique and intensity, however group treatments permit peer modeling, competition, and potentially increase a child’s overall participation.