At Home Water Therapy

aquatic therapySwimming has already proven that it can be beneficial in helping you to stay in shape. What you may not think about too often is the fact that there are a lot of different things you can do in the water to make swimming even more effective. This also includes working out during the summer months, without going to the gym. Have you ever considered at home water therapy?

The Best Use for Water Therapy

One of the biggest things you can do while in a pool is rehabilitating muscles. The water is relaxing to muscles so that they do not feel the workout the way they normally would. This can allow them to stretch further, without increasing your pain. It also does not cause you to feel pain in your joints the way that you would if you were trying to compensate for sore muscles. In a swimming pool, it is impossible for you to jar your joints and muscles by walking, hopping, or doing any other movements that would normally aggravate further the aches and pains of a previous injury.

Other Uses

autism and water therapyNot only does water soothe the body, but it can soothe the mind. Therefore, there are some who feel that it may also be beneficial to children and adults who suffer from autism. It can help by giving a person with ASD better balance, more communication skills since small talk can happen easily in a pool, sensory improvement, improve oral motor skills, and best of all; improves their ability to swim. Can you imagine the person that you love being more able to blow out a birthday candle because they blow bubbles in the water, or feeling more because it awakens senses and calms at the same time? These same benefits can also help those who suffer with cerebral palsy and other medical issues. You can perhaps increase this “calmness” by putting them in a pool that is close to home and adding lights to it. They even have pool lights for above ground pools now, so that people can workout whenever it is best for them and enjoy a deeper relaxation.

Swimming Rocks

cerebral palsy and aquatic therapyMany parents do not want to have a pool because they are worried about their children getting hurt. However, for the autistic child, it can be beneficial to have a pool available to them. It gives them the chance to learn how to swim, which is great because many kids with ASD cannot express that they need help. By making aquatic therapy a part of their lives, you can work with them on how to communicate when they are in danger, while teaching them how to swim and lessen the risk. They can workout without feeling that you are pushing them to workout their muscles. The beauty of water is that most all kids will feel happier because they are swimming. If you have a child that rebels against being told let’s do this, chances are they will not be upset over a chance to play in the water. You simply have to stay close in case they get into trouble while trying to have fun.

Therapy Through Fashion

fashion therapyThere are many reasons a person may need to heal. It could be an accident that impairs their ability to do things, it could be a handicap that they were born with, or any number of other things. Pets are good physical therapy assistants, but sometimes it takes more to ensure that a person feels good on the inside and the out. This often requires a little therapy through fashion and many healthcare professionals feel that it can significantly improve other aspects of a person’s therapy.

The Idea of Fashion Therapy

handicapped modelsWhen you think about someone with any type of handicap, it is often because they look a certain way. Your attention is typically drawn to their handicap, whatever it may be. When a person has an obvious issue, they feel as though all eyes are on it, whether it is a broken arm, a missing limb, or a severe burn scar that they cannot quite cover up. It is something that makes them different and most of us just want to be looked at as ourselves, not as what may hinder or hold us back. Therefore, the idea of fashion therapy takes root in our desire to blend in with the crowd rather than stand out from it.

Looking Better Than Ever

disabled modelsPart of therapy for anyone who is having issues, big or small, is a positive self esteem that they can achieve what they want to. A person with down syndrome can live a normal life with a job and a family if they put their mind to it. The same can be said for all other handicaps. The handicap should be viewed as a strength, because they can overcome it with a little dedication. A wardrobe may seem like something that is insignificant to someone who is striving to make their way in a world where they are unique, but it is quite the opposite. That is why we have colored casts for broken bones, reconstructive surgery for severe scars, and limbs that look like normal limbs for those who need it. Those people go through a lot to be “normal” and they should take it a step further. They should wear the clothes that they enjoy wearing, the makeup that makes them feel good about themselves, and even a little henna over hair dye can come in handy as they age to ensure that they continue to look great.

Never Give Up

A person with a handicap of any kind is going to be faced with a daily challenge of pushing themselves harder than all others have to. Having a physical therapist who knows how hard to push them and clothing that makes them feel great about themselves can both work together to improve self esteem and make it so that they never give up on the things they hope to achieve. By dressing for success, they can be successful. By dressing to impress, they can be impressive. By dressing in a way that makes them feel normal, they can be normal; and that is perhaps the most important thing a person can ask for, with or without a disability.