Have you recently suffered an orthopedic injury such as a rotator cuff or ACL tear? Then you know the rehabilitation for many of these injuries can be difficult, painful, and lengthy. At Unified Rehabilitation, we aim to streamline the process by offering aquatic therapy for orthopedic injuries.
An orthopedic injury is anything that impacts your musculoskeletal system. A minor orthopedic injury, such as a mild muscle strain, may get better on its own. However, severe orthopedic injuries require extensive rehabilitation to ensure you retain strength and mobility in the affected body part.
One way to speed up that rehabilitation is through aquatic therapy, which offers the same effective exercises and pain relief as land-based physical therapy–but with some unique benefits all its own.
Let’s look at two examples (both names have been changed) from here in Winter Garden, FL that illustrate why aquatic therapy for orthopedic injuries might be the right choice for you!
Two Times Aquatic Therapy Helped Our Patients Rehabilitate after an Orthopedic Injury
Josh’s Story: A Painful Rotator Cuff Tear
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that wraps and supports the shoulder. It’s one of the more common orthopedic injuries, and a severe rotator cuff tear can be immensely painful–as Josh found out.
In fact, Josh’s pain was so severe that he found it difficult to perform the exercises necessary for his rehabilitation–which meant he was seeing next to no progress in addressing his pain and restricted range of motion.
But when we moved him into the water, Josh found that it buoyed his arm, allowing him to move his shoulder with much less discomfort. As he guided his arm through the water, he strengthened his rotator cuff more effectively, improving his pain levels and mobility and hastening his rehabilitation.
Holly’s Story: Finding Her Balance After an ACL Tear
When Holly tore her ACL (anterior crucial ligament), she was eager to get started with physical therapy. After all, it would allow her to return to her favorite activities as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, ACL rehabilitation can take a long time, with the first month dedicated to restoring her motion, building her strength, and improving her balance and walking ability.
To facilitate Holly’s rehabilitation, we moved into the water. Why? Because she had zero chance of falling there, allowing her to focus on improving her balance and walking patterns. Furthermore, exercising in the water challenges the muscles more than doing so on land (as you’re fighting against the water’s pressure), helping Holly to build strength faster and with less pain.
Explore the Benefits of Aquatic Therapy for Yourself
As both Josh and Holly discovered, aquatic therapy for orthopedic injuries offers a host of benefits. If you’re struggling with pain, restricted mobility, and slow progress in your own rehabilitation, aquatic therapy may be the tool you’re missing.
To learn if aquatic therapy will work for your needs, request an appointment at Unified Rehabilitation today!