Top 5 Benefits of Aquatic Therapy for Seniors

Exercise offers numerous benefits to seniors such as improving your heart health, mental health, and strengthening your muscles. However, some seniors have health conditions that can make regular exercises difficult and tiresome. Aquatic therapy is a great way to keep seniors active and healthy without putting additional tension on their joints. Common aquatic therapy exercises include water aerobics, strength training, yoga, water jogging, and swimming. Atlas Physical Therapy offers the latest technologies and evidence–based physical therapy intervention. As a small, local, privately owned clinic, we are able to provide you with a higher quality of care. Give us a call today to schedule your initial appointment!

5 Benefits of Aquatic Therapy for Seniors

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, water-based exercise can improve the quality of life of older adults and decrease disabilities. If your loved one suffers a physical health condition that puts a lot of stress on his or her muscles, you may want to consider aquatic therapy. The top five benefits of aquatic therapy for seniors include:

1. Minimal Stress on Joints. – The Arthritis Foundation and the CDC have previously recommended pool workouts as an ideal exercise for those suffering from arthritis. The water’s buoyancy removes the weight from the bones and relieves joint pressure which reduces the pain and can promote good blood flow.
2. Improves Cardiovascular Health. – Although aquatic therapy is gentler on the body, these exercises can still raise the heart rate enough to burn fat and improve your overall cardiovascular health. Specifically, aquatic therapy focuses on reducing the risk of heart attack and heart disease. 
3. Increased Strength and Balance. – Working out in the water that is at least waist deep will build strength as seniors fight against water movements to stay balanced. The CDC has reported that 20 percent of senior falls have resulted in injuries such as a broken hip or head injury. Rapid movements in water can build muscle endurance and strength which will reduce the risk of falling. 
4. Allows for Socializing. – In previous articles, we have mentioned how lonely seniors can become when they aren’t socializing regularly. Although community pools may not be accessible due to COVID-19, if your home or nursing home has pool or water-access, consider having a family member or friend join you in your aquatic therapy session as a way to maintain healthy both mentally and physically.
5. Improves Mental Health. – As most exercises do, aquatic exercises release those “feel-good” endorphins that can improve your mood and reduce anxiety. Swimming, walking, or water aerobics are great aquatic therapy exercises that can also increase brain function to reduce the risk of dementia and reduce stress levels.

Before diving into aquatic therapy, please consult your doctor about your health conditions and for any questions regarding the recommended exercise program best for you! 

At 24/7 Nursing Care, we want to ensure that all of your needs are being met. If you or your loved one can no longer stay home alone, invite us into your home. Our in-home placement services range from in-home nursing care for post-surgery recovery, companion care for seniors, home health aide services, and many more. To find out what services are best for you and for a free in-home consultation, call our Miami-Dade office at (786) 518-3622 or our Broward office at (954) 949-1332.