Aquatic exercise utilizes water to facilitate various therapeutic interventions, such as stretching and resistance training, with the unique properties of water allowing for diverse treatment approaches. The goals include enhancing range of motion, cardiovascular exercise, and minimizing injury risk, while precautions must be taken for specific health conditions. Regular maintenance of aquatic exercise facilities is crucial to prevent infections and ensure safety.

1. AQUATIC EXERCISE
By Anand Vaghasiya [ Final Year BPT]

2. DEFINITION OF AQUATIC EXERCISE
Aquatic exercise refers to the use of water (in multidepth immersion pools or
tanks) that facilitates the application of established therapeutic interventions,
including stretching, strengthening, joint mobilization, balance and gait training,
and endurance training.

3. • The unique properties of the aquatic environment provide clinicians with
treatment options that may otherwise be difficult or impossible to implement on
land.
• Using buoyant devices and varied depths of immersion the practitioner has
flexibility in positioning the patient (supine, seated, kneeling, prone, sidelying, or
vertically) with any desired amount of weight bearing.

4. GOALS AND INDICATIONS FOR AQUATIC
EXERCISE
• Facilitate range of motion (ROM) exercise
• Initiate resistance training
• Facilitate weight-bearing activities
• Enhance delivery of manual techniques
• Provide three-dimensional access to the patient
• Facilitate cardiovascular exercise
• Initiate functional activity replication
• Minimize risk of injury or reinjury during rehabilitation
• Enhance patient relaxation

5. PRECAUTIONS TO AQUATIC EXERCISE
• Fear of Water
• Neurological Disorders
• Respiratory Disorders
• Cardiac Dysfunction
• Small, Open Wounds and Lines

6. CONTRAINDICATIONS
• Incipient cardiac failure and unstable angina.
• Respiratory dysfunction, vital capacity of less than 1 liter.
• Severe peripheral vascular disease.
• Danger of bleeding or hemorrhage.
• Severe kidney disease
• Open wounds
• Uncontrolled bowel or bladder
• Menstruation without internal protection.
• Water and airborne infections or diseases
• Uncontrolled seizures

7. WHY WATER ?
Answer is
specific
Properties of
water.

8. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF WATER:
Static
Buoyancy
Hydrostatic
Pressure
Surface Tension
Viscosity
Dynami
c
Hydromechanics
Thermo-
dynamics
Center of
Buoyancy

9. STATIC PROPERTIES:
• Buoyancy: Buoyancy is the upward force that works opposite to gravity.
• Hydrostatic Pressure: Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by the water
on immersed objects.
• Viscosity: is friction occurring between molecules of liquid resulting in resistance
to flow.
• Surface Tension: The surface of a fluid acts as a membraneunder tension. Surface
tension is measured as force per unit length.

10. DYNAMIC PROPERTIES
• Hydromechanics: the physical properties and characteristics of fluid in motion.
• Thermodynamics: Water temperature has an effect on the body and, therefore,
on performance in an aquatic environment.
• Center of Buoyancy: The center of buoyancy is the reference pointof an
immersed object on which buoyant (vertical) forces of fluid predictably act.

11. POOLS FOR AQUATIC EXERCISE
Traditional therapeutic pool. (Courtesy of F.A. Davis
Co., Philadelphia, PA.)
Hydro Track©, self-contained underwater treadmill
system. (Courtesey of Ferno-Washington Inc.,
Wilmington, OH.)

12. SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR AQUATIC EXERCISE
Cervical collar. Flotation rings. Hand paddles.Buoyancy belts.

13. Swim bars. Hydro-tone boots and bells
Kickboards.

14. POOL CARE AND SAFETY
• Therapeutic pools require regular care and cleaning to avoid Pseudomonas
aeruginosa (an infection causing folliculitis).
• Frequent use increases the total organiccarbon as well as ammonia and organic
nitrogen found in the pool.
• Cleaning should occur at least twice weekly, and chlorine and pH level tests
should be done twice daily.
• All walking surfaces near and around the pool should beslip-resistant and free
of barriers. Water splashses should be dried immediately to prevent slips and
falls.
• Life preservers should be readily available and at least one staff member who is
CPR certified should be present at all times.

15. EXERCISE INTERVENTIONS USING AN AQUATIC
ENVIRONMENT
• Stretching Exercises
• Strengthening Exercises
• Aerobic Conditioning

17. THANK YOU !