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Learning to Swim

Aquatic Therapy

Where the waters do agree, it is quite wonderful the relief they give- Jane Austen

What is Aquatic Therapy?​

Aquatic Therapy uses the properties of water to support and teach a child skills just as in "land therapy". Therapeutic activities and exercises are provided in the aquatic environment to promote functional improvements on land. 

 

How might Aquatic Therapy Benefit my Child?​

Aquatic therapy provides a unique experience for children to address their therapeutic goals in a motivating aquatic environment. The gravity-reduced environment of the water allows children to work on motor skills which may be difficult to address on land. The aquatic environment provides tactile, deep pressure and proprioceptive input that allows for increased body awareness, enhanced motor learning, primitive reflex integration, sensory integration and modulation.

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Who Benefits from Aquatic Therapy?​

Our specially trained Occupational Therapists provide effective aquatic intervention for children with abnormal muscle tone, limited mobility, decreased strength/endurance, balance and coordination difficulties, and sensory processing challenges. Diagnoses/challenges may include:

  • Cerebral Palsy (CP)

  • Low Muscle Tone

  • Neurodevelopmental Delays

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

  • Sensory Processing Delays

  • Muscular Dystrophy

  • Spinal Cord Injuries / Spina Bifida

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ALL Children benefit from learning water safety! Drowning is the leading cause of death for children with Autism.

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Therapeutic Properties of Water and How it Helps!

Buoyancy can be defined as the upward force exerted by water. This assists in decreasing the amount of weight bearing through joints when submerged in the water.  As a result, buoyancy is helps to improve balance and core stability by limiting the fear of falling while still encouraging the individual to work against the force of the water to maintain an upright position.  Buoyancy can also be helpful to assist with floatation activities that are used for relaxation in order to decrease muscle tone and improve joint range of motion.

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**NOTE** Aquatic Therapy is not swimming lessons. It is a medically based therapy service that can be submitted to insurance for reimbursement.

However...your child may learn to swim through Aquatic Therapy and implementation of speicialized adaptive swim techniques.

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