Medical Studies Prove Aquatic Therapy Reduces Pain

Pain Relief Aquatic Therapy

Aquatic therapy is a great way to get in shape and reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Many people say that they would rather exercise in a pool of warm water as opposed to exercising on the land. Traditional workouts can be very painful for those who have conditions like osteoarthritis. The stiff joints and sharp, piercing pains often keep those affected from getting the physical activity they need. The water has amazing properties that allow the body to feel weightless. That means that a person can be free in the water to move about, and they don’t experience the pain they would with traditional exercise techniques. Because it is easier to workout pain-free, this is why so many elderly or those affected with chronic pain choose aquatic therapy to keep in shape. It all makes sense since swimming is the fourth most popular sports activity in the US, it’s a great way to get fit and have fun while doing so.

When it comes to pain relief, there simply is no better exercise. In 2014, Waller B, Ogonowska-Slodownik conducted a study on the many benefits of aquatic therapy. His finds were astounding. They showed that this type of exercise has a significant effect on pain and the continual movements help to ease the unpleasant sensations. The study looked at people who complained of stiffness, osteoarthritis and a lower quality of life. Just a few minutes in the water each week can allow a person to move easier and keep one’s joints from becoming frozen. Typically, when a joint hurts and is stiff, people move less because it hurts. However, the water tends to give a person a weightless feeling. This allows them to exercise more without feeling pain during the process.

Physicians that are treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis of other chronic diseases often recommend aquatic therapy. Not only can it improve their pain levels, but it can also decrease anxiety and depression and improve their overall mood. The benefits go beyond physical health and extend into the mental health category also. When the pain a person experience lessens each day, their mood will automatically lift. No one wants to be in pain. Also, one of the best ways to combat depression and anxiety is to exercise in any form possible. Serotonin levels in the brain increase with each workout session. The overall outlook on life will change when pain and depression melt away.

Some types of exercise have the ability to make joint pain worse. Though walking and aerobics are good for the heart, they can wreck havoc on the joints. Aquatic therapy is a mild way to work out that allows a wide variety of age groups to come together on a sport that is not only a great way to combat pain and loose weight, but it can be a social experience that is enlightening.