The Benefits Of Aquatic Therapy For Older Adults And Senior Living In Phoenix

Regular exercise and staying active is key to aging well and staying healthy. Regular exercise is a must for older adults who are seeking to stay healthy as it is associated with improved overall wellness, reduced risk of falls, dementia prevention, and even a lower risk of death. But sometimes health conditions, such as circulatory problems, joint disease and arthritis, often make exercise difficult. Aquatic therapy is a great solution for older adults to exercise regularly while reducing the impact on joints. Aquatic therapy may involve doing water aerobics, yoga, strength training, swimming, water jogging, or other water-based activities. Water-based exercises can decrease disability and improve quality of life in seniors.

Before talking about the benefits of aquatic therapy for seniors, here’s some information on assisted living facilities.

Assisted facilities are designed for older adults suffering from memory or mobility issues where senior residents receive round-the-clock care and support in the hands of experienced caregivers. If you are on the lookout for a senior living community in the Phoenix region in AZ, don’t look beyond the award-winning Anthem Senior Living and our newly opened Senior Sanctuary of Anthem/Assisted Living Sanctuary of Anthem.

Aquatic Therapy:

People of all ages benefit from aquatic physical therapy (APT), which refers to treatments and exercises performed in water for relaxation, fitness, physical rehabilitation, and other therapeutic benefit. It is mainly a qualified aquatic therapist who gives constant attendance to a person receiving treatment in a heated therapy pool. Some of the therapeutic applications include neurological disorders, spine pain, musculoskeletal pain, postoperative orthopedic rehabilitation, pediatric disabilities, and pressure ulcers.

The therapy is usually done as a group that takes place in a warm pool (the ideal water temperature for APT is 87 degrees), it can also be done one-on-one with a personal trainer. Aquatic therapy comprises a wide range of exercises done in the water including water aerobics, yoga, water jogging, swimming, etc.

Benefits Of Aquatic Therapy For Older Adults:

1. APT releases the “feel good” hormones endorphins that can improve mood and reduce anxiety. Apart from that, being in the water has relaxation benefits that can reduce anxiety even more. Furthermore, there are social benefits to the therapy because of APT being usually done in social settings. The social benefits include increased confidence and a strong sense of well-being.
2. Although APT is more gentle, but it can still be an intense form of exercise that can raise the heart rate enough to burn fat and improve overall cardiovascular health.
3. Regular water workouts can prove to be beneficial in building strength and balance in aging adults. Certain conditions put older adults at an increased risk for falls that can have catastrophic outcomes for them. Aquatic therapy builds strength as seniors fight water movements to stay balanced (provided the therapy is done in water that is at least waist deep).
4. The therapy reduces impact on joints. The natural buoyancy of the water helps to reduce the pressure and stress from joints while still allowing older adults to be active. Since the therapy helps to release endorphins, the release of this natural painkiller may also help to reduce joint pain as well.
5. Hydrostatic pressure, which is the force fluid molecules exert on the body when immersed in water, offers many benefits to seniors involved in aquatic therapy. The pressure exists even with no movement helps to decrease swelling in pain, increasing range of motion in older adults.

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