Aqua Therapy: Exercise for those that can’t Exercise
Aqua Therapy for Fibromyalgia
Recently one of our articles Exercise Tips for Fibromyalgia went a little viral and we received thousands of views a day on this article. However, one of the underlining themes of those commenting and sharing there experiences was that exercising was just plain to hard for them! Today, I want to introduce or re introduce an alternative option for you to consider.
Aqua Therapy: Exercise for those that can’t Exercise
Aqua Therapy is also referred to as hydro therapy, warm water therapy, water aerobics, or swimming pool workouts. For today’s article we will stick with the terminology Aqua Therapy, however now you know we are referring to any of the above.
One reason normal exercise programs are hard for fibromyalgia sufferers is the high impact to their body. Aqua Therapy as an alternative fitness solution gives unique ways to restore joint health and strengthen muscles, while being low impact and not damaging your body.
The Overwhelming response I read and hear from the FMS community is that exercise is just to hard because of the pain they are in already. Many are worried about injuring themselves further and dealing with more pain on top of what they already have.
The arthritis community has recommended Auqa therapy for a long time for its healing benefits on commonly sore, stiff, and achy joints. The studies showing how effective aqua therapy is for arthritis sufferers can be the same benefits the fibromyalgia and chronic health community can benefit from.
Why Try Aqua Therapy?
– Warm water helps with muscle relaxation
– The Water gives resistance for strength training but is low impact on the joints.
– As many of you have probably already noticed from taking warm baths. Warm water helps with overall pain levels and also lessens muscle pain sensitivity.
– Aqua therapy is an easy start for those who are currently inactive.
It’s not hard to see why aqua therapy is a popular choice for those with Fibromyalgia. An Australian study revealed this therapy to be particularly beneficial for those that found other traditional fitness programs to hard.
So if you have joint and other body pain, consider aqua therapy as a fitness program. You can get a stronger and more toned body minus the potential damage regular exercise might give.
To find a Aqua therapy class near you, check out your local Arthritis Foundation office, YMCA, YWCA, or fitness clubs in your area. Ask for referrals from local chiropractors, massage therapists, or support groups, etc. When possible try to find saltwater pools instead of the ones using chemicals like chlorine.
Sources/references:
“Aquatic Therapy.” Aquahab Physical Therapy. , Schachner, J. “Benefits of Aquatic Therapy for the Arthritic Patient.” Athletico Physical Therapy. June 26, 2012. , “Aquatic Exercise and Tai Chi Effective Therapy for Osteoarthritis.” Arthritis Foundation.
About Author
Ryan Tomlinson | Website | Twitter
I am a Father of 2 wonderful boys and husband to my beautiful wife. My wife was Assessed with fibromyalgia and has been in a lot of pain. I started this blog as place to share my research on fibro diets and treatments. We have decided not to claim this condition and try to beat it naturally. The site is for me and my family just as much as it is for you. I hope these articles help in some small way!
Thank you, I may check out the local YMCA. I just need to reduce all my doctors appointments to a manageable amount. :-/
Thanks for the comment Amy! I hope you are able to reduce you appointments as well. If you get the time to try Aqua Therapy again, let us know how it goes
… Stay Strong!
Ryan, I want to thank you for your efforts, and I must say that often in my research I have been turned off by sales pitches disguised as cures for FM. I was familiar with sleep habits, and it all does make a difference. As someone who used to stretch all the time, I still think one must do some stretching prior to certain types of exercise, but people so often stretch improperly! In a class, instructors guide us into correct postures, and discourage common tendencies such as “bouncing” instead of slow sustained stretching. But consider this: if you are going to use even small weights or even bands, and the muscles, et al, aren’t warmed up, tearing is more likely. But using the stretch AS exercise is what works for me. FM seems to have tightened my musculature, and stretches (and age) are so much harder to do and seem to accomplish less. Personally I cannot swim. I have MCS and chlorine and bromine water would be lethal. I try to keep moving. We all must try. It’s tough because so many with FM have other major dx’s that complicate regimens for FM.