Let Aquatic Therapy Pave the Way to Decreased Arthritis Pain

By Emily A. Awad, LPTA, CPO

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) uses the word arthritis to define more than 100 rheumatic diseases and conditions that can affect joint, tissue, and muscle integrity. Some common arthritic diseases are osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), gout, and fibromyalgia syndrome.

The CDC estimates that currently 54.4 million people are living with arthritis and they estimate that the number will grow to 78.4 million by the year 2040! The statistics reflect physician-diagnosed arthritis and imply the actual number is, most likely, higher. Regardless of the specific type, arthritis is a debilitating disease and left unmanaged can have extremely detrimental effects on a person’s physical and emotional wellbeing.

Aquatic therapy is a great intervention for people suffering from arthritis. Exercising in a pool has the following benefits:

• Provides a low-impact environment to focus on strengthening, endurance, and balance.
• Warm water helps to decrease stiffness. The warmth of the water in addition to the hydrostatic pressure of the water helps decrease swelling in the joints.
• Being in the water eases the fear of falling as the water is buoyant and there is no hard surface to land on, decreasing the chance of a more severe injury such as a fracture.
• The aquatic environment has shown to improve patient proprioception. Improved awareness allows the patient to focus on their movements and recruit appropriate muscles during exercises.

Arthritis is not who you are, it is a part of you that you can take steps to control. Aquatic therapy is a great way to facilitate the proper management of arthritic pain. The aquatic environment encompasses a mind/body approach to assist in achieving a better quality of life.

Start paving the Water, Arthritis, You to decreased pain and improved function for your daily activities. A licensed physical therapist and/or a licensed physical therapist assistant can help develop a program tailored to you. If you are experiencing the pains and symptoms of arthritis, call (804) 764-1000 or complete the contact form for more information about aquatic classes.