What Are the Benefits of Water Therapy After Back Surgery?

Water therapy, also known as aquatic therapy, is used to treat different physical conditions. Aquatic therapy is a type of physical therapy that takes place in an aquatic environment, such as a pool. Aquatic therapy is used for back-surgery rehabilitation.

Significance

• Activities done in water therapy do not stress the muscles as much as exercises done on land. Since the muscles are not stressed as much in aquatic therapy, rehabilitation can start sooner, accelerating the recovery process.

Safety

• Under the supervision of a trained aquatic therapist, water therapy is safe. Aquatic therapy is considered safer than physical therapy done on land because in the water there are no hard surfaces on which the patient can fall and hurt himself.

Benefits

• The water is what makes aquatic therapy beneficial. Inside a pool, muscles are relieved of stress normally placed on the body by gravity. The buoyancy of the water also helps the patient to gain a greater range of motion during therapy sessions.

Considerations

• In preparation for back surgery, patients can use water therapy as pre-rehabilitation. Going through water therapy before surgery strengthens muscles. Getting stronger before back surgery will prevent you from becoming weak and vulnerable after surgery.

Treating Complications

• When having back surgery, the possibility of major complications, such as temporary or permanent paralysis of limbs, can occur if the spinal cord is damaged during the procedure. Water therapy is beneficial in treating temporary paralysis because the water helps to stimulate neurological development.