Optimizing Aquatic Therapy: The Critical Role of Air and Water Temperature When clients enter the pool area for aquatic therapy at AzOPT, we often hear “Wow! It is so warm in here.” Even the pool water is warmer than most expect. While local gyms keep their pool areas with ambient air temperatures in the mid…
Ask the Therapist: Do I Really Need Physical Therapy Before Replacement Surgery? “My surgeon is going to remove all the arthritis from my bone-on-bone knee and replace it so I am pain free! What’s the point of physical therapy before surgery?” True – during most replacement surgeries, patients often have great success removing the arthritis…
Each year, more than 30 million falls are reported among adults 65 and older. While increased numbers of falls are associated with older adults, falls are not a normal part of aging. Medical experts recommend staying active and completing activities that strengthen your legs and improve balance. Tai Chi activities on land and Ai Chi…
11 Practical Water Safety Tips for Kids It is about that time of year again when the temperatures outside are blazing hot in Arizona! In Arizona, this is the time of year temperatures begin to blaze and many families “escape the heat” by engaging in water play or swimming activities in pools, lakes, or local…
Using the Pool for Exercise during the Summer Are you wondering how you can use the pool for exercise this summer? One of the benefits of living in AZ in the summer, other than sweating off ten pounds of water weight, is our access to swimming pools and other forms of water activity to keep…
Halliwick Water Specific Therapy Certification by Genevieve Afan PT, DPT, Cert DN & Bobbi Michels PT, DPT, PAq AzOPT Buckeye Aquatic Therapists Halliwick, or Water Specific Therapy, was originally developed in 1950 as a way to teach people with disabilities how to swim and be independent in the water. This method uses a 10-point program…
Using Aquatic Therapy to Treat Knee Osteoarthritis by Blake McDonald, DPT AzOPT Buckeye Doctor of Physical Therapy Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is an irreversible condition that will eventually require surgery. So why bother treating the knee with physical therapy if it is just prolonging the inevitable, right? WRONG! Oftentimes, knee replacement surgery is only…
Potential Benefits of Aquatic Therapy for Specific Diagnoses by Morgan Wilhelm, Student Physical Therapist Below we look at specific diagnoses that have benefitted from participating in aquatic therapy. This is, of course, not an exhaustive list. There are many adults and children who can benefit from therapy in an aquatic environment. Follow this link…
What is Aquatic Therapy and How it Helps by Jordan Ribota, PT, DPT AzOPT Buckeye Doctor of Physical Therapy Aquatic therapy, quite simply put, is using the physical qualities of water (or a pool in most cases) as a form of rehab or exercise. Once your physical therapist and you determine aquatic therapy is best…
Aquatic vs Land Therapy – What is the Difference? by Bobbi Michels, PT, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Aquatic physical therapy, like land-based physical therapy, is part of the physical medicine and rehabilitation specialty involving the expertise and knowledge of a licensed physical therapist. Land-based therapy incorporates rehabilitation of an individual using therapeutic…
