Struggling with joint aches and pains and not able to exercise. Is Aqua Therapy an option for you? PatientsEngage speaks to Mumbai-based Deepali Jain, a certified aqua specialist and fitness expert and Sucheta Talwar who conquered fear of water and severe arthritis with aqua therapy.
What is Aqua Therapy?
Aqua Therapy is a specialized form of water-based exercises and work outs for relaxation, fitness, health benefits and rehabilitation. It refers to the use of water for therapeutic purposes. The exercises or treatment are done in a pool either floating or standing in water.
What are the benefits of exercising in water?
Aqua therapy has many benefits and is useful for a variety of medical conditions. The unique physical properties of water assist in exercising and healing.
One benefit of aqua therapy is the buoyancy provided by water. You shed 90% of your body weight in water. So, if you weigh 100kgs on land, you will weigh only 10kgs in water. As a result you become extremely buoyant or light. This allows you to move in many new ways; you can float, walk and jog without exertion. The buoyancy especially helps people with weakened limbs or joints.
Secondly, water provides 12% - 14% more resistance than air so moving through it is like having weights all around your body. This resistance allows for muscle development without the need for weights and reduces stress on the joints which is difficult to achieve on land. Moving through water means you are always encountering resistance and hence always building muscle strength.
Also the hydrostatic pressure (pressure of water exerted against the body) helps reduce edema and swelling in the joints and soft tissue that results from injury or with arthritic disorders.
Above all, water is cool and refreshing, providing a stress free environment for work outs. You can burn as much as around 1000-1200 calories in just one hour session.
For which medical conditions is aqua therapy ideal?
Aqua therapy is helpful in cases where land based work outs become difficult due to pain and disability. It is particularly good for people with orthopaedic or musculoskeletal disorders. In addition, aqua therapy is recommended for people with diabetes and high blood pressure. Both these conditions can be better managed with aquatic exercises.
So it is especially beneficial for people with arthritis and osteoporosis?
Yes. Water exercise is one of the most comfortable and effective ways that a person with arthritis, decreased bone density or disability such as arthritis, osteoarthritis, muscle strain, back pain, neck pain, slip disc can be treated. When immersed in water, the buoyancy in water decreases weight and puts less strain or pressure on painful joints. It is also helpful for post-surgery recovery in instances of hip and knee replacement.
For what age group is aqua therapy advantageous?
I have patients in the age group of nine to 84. However, majority of them are between 40-60 years.
What are some of the some of the common exercises done in water therapy?
There is walking, jogging, pilates, yoga, tai chi, aerobics, kick-boxing, tabata, boot camp workout, circuit training, weight bearing exercises. Some are easy, while others are heavy-duty. All my fitness programmes are tailor-made for the individual, depending on the requirement of the client.
For instance, aqua aerobics is ideal for women who are approaching or have achieved menopause. The water is therapeutic, cool and comforting. It helps them to combat the menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, hormonal imbalances leading to mood swings also helps in muscle strengthening as well as maintaining a healthy heart.
Could you give us one or two instances of your success stories where patients have benefitted with aqua therapy?
Yes, there are too many to recount. I had a 33-year-old man whose spine was severely injured after an accident. He hopped around from one physiotherapist to another for two years, but found little relief.
When he came to me, he could not walk straight. He had heard about aqua therapy from a friend and was willing to give try it. He began attending my classes and showed remarkable improvement. In a year, he was walking without any limp or pain. The exercises in the water helped him strengthen his back faster and with greater ease. In another case, a 62-year-old lady, who had both her knees replaced, had almost stopped walking due to the pain and uneasiness post surgery. Aqua therapy helped her tremendously. Even though she has completely recovered today, she still comes for my sessions because she feels good.
In India, people are hesitant to wear swim suit. Is there a dress code to be followed?
Since I get a lot of elderly clients, especially women, who have never worn a swimsuit in their life, I tell them to wear full length tights and close fitting T-shirt or aqua rash guard T-shirts. Now, full body wet suits are also easily available.
How popular is aqua therapy in India?
I would say, not very popular. But as people are getting aware about it and realizing its multiple benefits, they are embracing it more willingly.
Can a non-swimmer practice aqua therapy?
You don’t need to know swimming to practice aqua therapy. There non-swimmers who exercise in the deep side with aqua floats and aqua balance rings. We have specially designed floatation devices, therapy floats and other water rehabilitation equipment to help keep afloat and exercise without fear.
What are the limitations of water therapy? Should one be watchful about anything?
Prima facie, there are no limitations. But people with medical history of skin infections, urinary tract infections, open wounds, seizure disorders like epilepsy should not avail of any aqua therapy.
At the end, I would like to caution everybody - Aqua Therapy should be done under the supervision of a qualified physical therapist. If you have any problem, discuss with your doctor before beginning an aqua therapy programme. Always start with gentle water exercises.
Deepali Jain is credited with starting aqua aerobics in India in 1999 in Mumbai and many other cities. Her aqua therapy courses have helped heal and rehabilitate large number of people.
