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We offer on-site Aquatic Therapy.
We use the latest techniques and technologies.
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Benefit of Aquatic Therapy

Most people don’t like to be under pressure or deal with resistance from something, but these are two forces that are a huge benefit of aquatic therapy.

“Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium at a given point within the fluid, due to the force of gravity. Hydrostatic pressure increases in proportion to depth measured from the surface. This is due to the increasing weight of fluid exerting a downward force from above.” The force/pressure being put on the body, greatly enhances venous return and cardiac functions. Buoyancy also assists with venous return by counteracting the downward pull of gravity with the up-thrust of the water. With increased venous return, you can exercise more vigorously with less stress on the cardiovascular system and reduce training heart rate. Another benefit of hydrostatic pressure, swelling is reduced in the injured or edematous joints or limbs below the water. As you can see, being put under this type of pressure allows you to work harder with less symptoms.

Resistance of the water will make you stronger because it provides about 12 times the resistance of air. The resistance of water also allows improvement in balance, sensory awareness, and strength in all muscle directions. The turbulence of the water and resistance during movements puts more demand on your balance and promotes circulation. Patients feel safe in the water due to their movements are slower and less likely to be jerky or ballistic.

With the assistance of therapeutic water temperature, buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, and the normal resistance of water, aquatic therapy patients can get a workout without feeling like they are doing a workout. So embrace the “pressure” and push through the “resistance” and jump into a fun, strengthening aquatic program at ProActive Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine.

About the Author - Laura

Laura was born and raised in Poway, CA, and is a southern California girl through and through. She went to college at Loyola Marymount University where she played basketball and rowed crew. She received her Physical Therapist Assistant degree from San Diego Mesa College, and she has been working as an outpatient, orthopedic PTA since 1996. She started her career in Los Angeles, CA, working for HealthSouth and Select Medical at the Kerlan Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic for 10 years. Laura came back home to San Diego in 2007, and has been working with ProActive Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine ever since. She works out of the Rancho Bernardo clinic as well as covering at all of the ProActive clinics. She ran the Aquatic Therapy Program at Kerlan Jobe for 9 years, and now has been in charge of the ProActive’s Aquatic Therapy in Rancho Bernardo. Her other career passion is working with Industrial Rehab and Worker Compensation patients. She has been performing Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE) and POETS (Post Offer Employment Tests) for her entire career, and has worked with companies like Chevron, Union Pacific Railroad, American and Hawaiian Airlines, and Chrysler. She loves working with and helping people get back to what they want to do. . . walking their dog to playing pickle ball/tennis to going on a trip with their grandchildren. She enjoys walking/hiking with her dogs on her spare time.