Experts on the science behind aquatic therapy and its application across specialities

In his 33 years at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital Dr Ali Irani head of physiotherapy and sports medicine has rarely encountered a patient who swims walk in with an injury This is a testament to the fact that waterbased therapy or a fitness regime is a shortcut to wellness and helps with better rehabilitation of patients he shares Take for instance veteran actor Waheeda Rehman who recently shared in an interview with MidDay that she sought waterbased or aquatic therapy to treat a chronic lower backache In fact Dr Irani former head physiotherapist for the Indian cricket team between 1987 and 1997 recounts taking players to the pool for regular exercises including during international matches It is one of the best forms of exercise and rehabilitation he shares adding that the therapy is gaining popularity for its many benefitsUndergoes aquatic therapyWhat is aquatic therapyDr Arnaaz Doctor orthopaedic physiotherapist at AquaCentric Therapy Pvt Ltd which offers aquatic therapy in the city tells us ldquoItrsquos a rehabilitation technique carried out in warm indoor temperaturecontrolled pools The warmth of the water and the hydrostatic pressure help reduce body pains inflammation and swelling It helps strengthen your core and improves balance and joint movementrdquo Dr Arnaaz and Dr Irani explain that the therapy is driven by the principle of buoyancy ldquoIf water is at your shoulder level 90 per cent of your body weight is reduced As there are no compressive forces on your joints or spine therersquos better mobility and you can start rehabilitation earlier as compared to landbased therapyrdquo explains Dr Arnaaz Dr Irani elaborates that if one has a backache working out on land may injure their knee or vice versa ldquoThat wonrsquot happen in waterrdquo he adds Moreover as water is 800 times denser than air Dr Arnaaz notes that exercises you do in water aremore effectiveActor Waheeda Rehman also underwent the therapySo aquatic therapy centres like AquaCentric typically boast of temperaturecontrolled pools triplelayer sanitisation and aquatic physiotherapists ldquoBased on the patientrsquos history an assessment is done and depending on their goals and body requirements a treatment protocol is setrdquo she says adding that apart from medical needs they also cater to strengthening and weight lossCrossspecialty applicationsgtgt Dr Irani and Dr Arnaaz reveal that aquatic therapy is significant for ortho and sportsrelated injuries In fact they share that pools for aquatic therapy can accommodate treadmills cycles and other gym equipment and cameras to monitor movements and postures ldquoAfter an injury itrsquos difficult to start exercising on land and you may end up hurting another body part but in water you can start within a week This is especially beneficial for sportspersons or fitness enthusiasts They canrsquot afford to not exercise as cardiovascular endurance and strength reduces Moreover pain and inflammation the first signs in any orthopaedic injury will reduce due to warm waterrdquo Dr Arnaaz elaborates She adds that due to lower chances of injury itrsquos also ideal for the elderlyDr Veena Aurangabadwalagtgt It also helps cater to those with neurological issues for instance spinal cord injury ldquoFor those who are wheelchairbound we transfer them into water using a hoist While they might not be able to walk on land in water they can with support It gives them a sense of confidencerdquo she advisesgtgt Itrsquos also an effective therapy for those with polycystic ovary syndrome as working out inside water is easier and you lose more calories she claimsgtgt A technique called watsu which involves relaxation of body and mind helps with anxiety and other psychological issues It also helps with sensory issues in kids such as ADHD and autism The water calms them down and offers constant tactile feedbackDr Ali Iranigtgt Dr Veena Aurangabadwala gynaecologist Zen Multispeciality Hospital shares that owing to restrictions in the amount of painkillers that can be given to pregnant women for body aches doctors recommend natural resolutions including aquatic therapy ldquoIn water your body weight or the pressure that your back has to withstand is reduced That helps women with lower backache or spondylitis issuesrdquo Itrsquos also used for water births ldquoFor women who want to try vaginal birth but want to avoid labour analgesia theyrsquore given the choice of water birth which reduces spasms and painrdquo she assertsDr Arnaaz DoctorKeep in mindldquoAquatic therapy can be done at any age and stage of life from kids and seniors to nonswimmersrdquo Dr Arnaaz suggests Remember to go to a centre that has indoor temperaturecontrolled pools ldquoLook out for an aquatic physiotherapist who has superspecialisation in the area of your concern so that they understand your bodyrsquos needs and goals to customise a therapy routinerdquo she signs offKamalrukh Khan800No of times water is denser than air which makes underwater exercises more effective