Regular exercise keeps seniors healthy. But for some elderly individuals, many forms of physical activity are hard on their joints. The solution to this predicament is aquatic therapy. As an exercise done in the water, it gives seniors an opportunity to stay active while reducing the impact on their joints.

Why is exercise important for seniors?

Physical activity is the key to aging well. Seniors who engage in regular exercise improve their mobility, which allows them to perform activities independently. The strong muscles, increased flexibility, and good balance that result from exercise help to decrease older adults’ risk of falls.

Why are many exercises difficult for the elderly?

Squats and lunges, for example, are powerful exercises but can be difficult for seniors who experience pain in their knees, ankles, and hips. Though walking is one of the easiest exercises to perform on a daily basis, aging people may feel unsteady walking on uneven ground.

Many seniors are plagued by arthritis, lower back pain, and joint issues that prevent them from comfortably engaging in daily exercises that could boost their overall physical and emotional health. But older adults don’t need to give up exercising because of pain or discomfort.

What is aquatic therapy?

Seniors can get a good workout without stressing their lower body or exacerbating chronic pain. Older adults incorporate balance exercises, increase their flexibility, rectify muscle imbalances, and increase lower body strength by performing a gentle form of exercise known as aquatic therapy.

Aquatic therapy is performed in the pool. This popular form of exercise has limited impact on the joints, thereby allowing older adults to be at ease while staying physically active. In fact, being immersed in temperate water is soothing on the joints of aging people.

Per the American Physical Therapy Association, aquatic therapy is a type of physical therapy but in an aquatic setting. A physical therapist instructs the elderly participants during their regular aquatic therapy sessions, whether they are held as a group or one-on-one.

What exercises are performed in the pool?

While in the water, seniors perform a range of exercises, such as water aerobics, strength training, water jogging, and swimming. The variations of water therapy are nearly limitless. Versatile and adaptable, aquatic therapy is accessible to aging people of all physical ability levels.

Specific exercises seniors can expect when they enroll in aquatic therapy include aqua jumping jacks and aqua jogging—the water versions of both. Older adults perform arm circles, leg raises, flutter kicks, and bicep curls. They may also swim or engage in water walking, which resembles marching on land.

How does aquatic therapy benefit seniors?

1. Lessens Stress on the Joints

Since aquatic therapy is performed in the water, seniors benefit from its buoyancy. Resistance is reduced in the water and joints do not undergo impact or pressure. Aquatic therapy is an excellent alternative for seniors who want to stay active but don’t want to stress their joints.

2. Builds Muscle and Improves Balance

Seniors who perform aquatic therapy in water that is at least waist deep build strength. They stay balanced as they move quickly through the water, resisting its movements. When muscle endurance and strength increase, the seniors’ risk of falling correspondingly decreases.

3. Improves Cardiovascular Health

A vigorous form of exercise, aquatic therapy raises the heart rate. Seniors also burn fat as their overall cardiovascular health improves. During aquatic therapy, their lungs and heart use oxygen more efficiently, which reduces the older person’s risk of cardiovascular disease.

4. Decreases Swelling and Pain

Hydrostatic pressure occurs when the body is immersed in water. Fluid molecules apply pressure on the aging body, even during limited movement. As a result, the senior’s blood circulation improves; their range of motion increases; and any swelling due to pain decreases.

5. Boosts General Mood

Any exercise produces endorphins—and aquatic therapy is no different. These “feel good” hormones released during aquatic therapy improve the elderly participant’s mood and lessen any burdensome feelings of anxiety. The relaxing effects of being submerged in warm water bring out good feelings.

6. Provides Social Opportunities

Aquatic therapy usually takes place within a group. Exercising in the water with like-minded elderly participants offers numerous opportunities for meaningful social interactions, from friendly conversations about the rewarding benefits of aquatic therapy to emotional support about the vicissitudes of aging.

Seniors do not have to feel limited by their chronic health conditions or a decline in physical abilities. Aquatic therapy is an ideal form of exercise in which older adults can start slowly and gradually progress to improve their overall health and quality of life.

Exercise becomes less painful and more enjoyable when seniors participate in aquatic therapy. The therapeutic benefits of this form of exercise are highly desirable. Seniors who join an aquatic therapy program receive the full support from dedicated caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care.

Our professional caregivers provide safe transportation to the aquatic therapy facility so that seniors can enjoy the activity’s many health benefits. When your aging loved one needs to consult a doctor prior to starting the therapy, we drive them to the doctor’s office.

As a well-rated local home care agency, we provide additional elder care services. Included in our care responsibilities are medication reminders, grocery shopping, and healthy meal preparation. We perform light housekeeping, provide transfer assistance, and help with personal hygiene tasks.

Senior companionship is vital to the emotional health of the elderly, which is why our caregivers hold pleasant conversations, join seniors in leisure activities, and encourage them to pursue hobbies. Our engagement deters loneliness and social isolation that can reduce seniors’ quality of life.

Participating in aquatic therapy and receiving in-home care from Assisting Hands Home Care in Las Vegas, Nevada, helps seniors feel their best. When your aging loved one is ready for dependable senior care, schedule an in-home consult with us. We’ll customize a flexible care plan.

For more information on senior care services in Las Vegas, Nevada, call us at (725) 696-9942.