Almost everyone, regardless of age or physical condition, can benefit from aquatic exercise – even if you don’t know how to swim! Just being in the water has inherent benefits. From improvements in circulation to relieving joint pain, the rewards of aquatic exercise are numerous. Many physicians and therapists recommend aquatic therapy because it can advance individuals to a higher level of muscle fitness and mobility offering quicker advantages over land-based exercise and therapy:
Buoyancy provided by the water allows you to move more easily with decreased stress on muscles, joints, and bones while increasing flexibility and balance. In chest-deep water, you take 70% of your body weight off your joints. The “support” your body receives makes exercising easier and less painful, allowing you to exercise longer without increased effort or joint or muscle pain.
- Exercises performed in the water allow the heart to work more efficiently, making it a great cardiovascular workout.
- The pressure of the water on your joints and muscles comforts your body while you exercise, leaving you feeling less fatigued.
- Support provided by the water reduces the fear of falling.
Resistance of the water allows for higher workout intensities with less impact on your body.
Warm water therapy has even greater benefits. Our pool in the Oasis is usually at 90º and the spa is at 100º. Besides the comfort of the temperature, immersing in warm water raises your body temperature and relaxes your muscles benefitting individuals with disabilities and conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease, and many others. Participating in a warm water exercise class provides many physical benefits:
- Improved endurance, flexibility, and range of motion
- Improved pulmonary function
- Increased circulation
- Muscle relaxation and pain relief
- Strengthened muscles
- Decreased joint and soft tissue inflammation
- Improved bone density
Additionally, warm water exercise can have other benefits including reduced anxiety and stress, improved mood, and fun with friends.
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