Anyone who has slipped into the comfort of a warm bath already has some appreciation for the benefits of pool therapy. For people suffering from osteoarthritis - arthritis of the bone - the pain relief felt in the hips, back, and knees while in a warm bath is palpable. Yet, it is also true that exercising the joints is necessary to maintain flexibility, relieve pain and it is increasingly recognized that exercise retards the underlying disease process of osteoarthritis.

  • This leaves osteoarthritis sufferers with a dilemma: 

           How to engage in exercise and remain active while avoiding pain that results from activity ?

  • One answer is pool therapy - also referred to as aqua therapy or water therapy. A pool or tank of warm water provides an ideal environment in which to exercise because its buoyancy counteracts gravity, thereby decreasing the weight placed on painful joints and the spine. In fact, when immersed to neck level, buoyancy supports 90 percent of the body's weight. In waist-depth water, buoyancy can still support 50 percent of body weight. Diminished weight bearing stress is one of many of the advantages of pool therapy for patients with osteoarthritis.

Examples of Pool Therapy Exercises :

  • Many movements that are part of pool therapy for osteoarthritis patients look similar to stretching or resistance exercises conducted on land, with the exception that they use the gentle resistance of water rather than gravity to exercise muscles or joints. A few of the more popular exercises are:
  • Stretching, including stretching the hamstrings and lower back by slowly raising knees to chest, or stretching the upper back and neck by standing away from the side of the pool and leaning forward with arms outstretched to grasp the pool edge.
  • Strengthening, including using foam barbells to complete bicep curls or lateral side raises that work against water resistance.Water aerobics, including water walking, cross-country skiing movements, or slow jogging in a shallow pool which loosens the lower back and hips.
  • Ai Chi, a hybrid form of Tai Chi developed specifically for aquatic exercise that develops strength, balance, and joint flexibility through slow gentle movements while focusing upon relaxation and controlled breathing.