Aquatic Therapy

Physical Properties and Principles of Water

Buoyancy Archimedes Principle Percentages for different submersed body parts

Specific Gravity Density of object relative to water A ratio

>1 sink < 1 float

Not Constant

Aquatic Therapy

Physical Properties and Principles of Water

HydrodynamicsViscosity

Resistance due to friction of fluid moleculesCohesion vs adhesion

Physical Properties and Principles of Water

Form Drag Depends on shape Pressure differences at

opposite ends Related to turbulence How to adjust form drag?

Physical Properties and Properties of Water

Wave Drag Acts at the interface of two

different fluids Air and water

Greater speed greater wave drag

Reduces if under water Look at wake created

Physical Properties and Properties of Water

Hydrostatic PressureThe pressure from fluid is exerted equally on all

surfaces of an immersed object at any given depthGreater depth of immersion = greater pressure

Exercise Equipment

Assistive DevicesFlotation cuffPull buoysVest, beltsKick boards

Resistive Devices Water shoes, fins, boots, webbed gloves, paddles,

balls,

Indications Advantages

Buoyancy Warmth of water Reduction of compressive forces Neuromuscular control and balance Psychological boost

Disadvantages Costly Time consuming

Precautions Contrainidications

Principles in Developing Aquatic Therapy Programs

Warm-up and Cool down Deficiencies Consider all Principles Resistance Progression

Early, middle, advance, end-phase