The idea that exercise is beneficial for everybody is universally accepted. However, conventional forms of exercise can become challenging for people living with a disability.
For example, an individual with a neurological condition that impairs the sense of balance can become wary of exercises that may cause injury in the event of a fall. Or consider the case of a person with debilitating knee joint pain who’d steer clear of jogging or running on a treadmill.
It’s a good thing that aquatic-based exercises can offer a viable solution to address these challenges. Water is a wonderful medium for training, especially for people living with a disability. It offers the advantage of buoyancy which enhances your sense of balance as well as taking the strain off your joints and muscles. Using the examples mentioned above, water jogging is lower in impact compared to running on a treadmill or solid ground. Training with water dumbbells in the pool is also less risky than lifting free weights in the gym, with less risk of injury should you lose your balance.
There’s also a growing number of inclusive facilities for people living with a disability. Our Healthstin Allied Health Clinic in Moss Vale is one of these, where people of all functional capacities are welcome, and the facilities are made to be adaptive to suit the needs of people living with disabilities. To illustrate this, the Hydrotherapy pool in our Moss Vale location comes equipped with water wheelchairs plus a ramp for easier access.
If you or a loved one is living with a disability, you’re welcome to explore the many possibilities offered by aquatic therapy at Healthstin.
Talk to one of our well-trained Exercise Physiologists today by calling 1300 090 931 or click this link connect.