Aquatic Therapy

Family Achievement Center is one of the few outpatient clinics in the Twins Cities area to offer Aquatic Therapy.  Aquatic therapy, available to patients of all ages, is a therapy program performed in the water. It is especially important as it can maximize the benefits of physical, occupational and even speech therapy program goals for many patients. The special properties of water are effective for treating a variety of conditions including the following:

General conditions:

• Orthopedic conditions and injuries
  

• Neurological disorders
  

• Cardiopulmonary conditions

• Sensory Integration Dysfunction
  

Specific Diagnosis:

• Autism
  

• Arthritis
  

• Cerebral Palsy
  

• Down Syndrome

• Learning and Language Disabilities
  

• Brain Injury
  

• A range of other conditions—please ask to speak to a therapist for more information

Treatment sessions conducted by FAC’s therapists are designed to:

• Improve circulation, strength and endurance, balance and coordination

• Increase range of motion

• Decrease tissue swelling and pain

• Normalize muscle tone

• Protect joints during exercise

• Reduce stress

• Provide constant sensory input (warm water)

When a patient is in the water, the buoyancy helps to assist the weight of the patient, therefore reducing the stress and weight bearing on the joints. By reducing the stress on the joints, the patient may experience decreased pain in the water and be able to perform exercises that they could not do on land.  The buoyancy of the water can also assist weak muscles to allow increased performance of active exercises.  Also, the therapist can use the resistance of the water in order to help strengthen muscle groups and do functional movements, such as walking.

The warmth of the water during aquatic therapy also helps to relax muscles and increases blood flow.  This aspect of water therapy is beneficial because therapists are able to work on stretching activities in the water and patients will often report decreased pain while performing activities in the water.

Other Aquatic Therapy Benefits

FAC’s occupational and speech therapists have found that Aquatic Therapy assists with improving sensory processing.  Some note it is effective in facilitating self-care (hygiene, grooming, and dressing) and social skills by encouraging positive interaction with others in the pool.  It can also help with motivation and arousal levels for children.