Dear Editor:
I am a physiotherapist who is working in the area of hip and knee replacement.
I regularly recommend warm water aquacize classes to patients pre-operatively or for those patients who do not need surgery at this time.
It is a great form of exercise for this population who need to stay strong and flexible with low impact on the joints.
Balance, coordination and circulation improve in a safe environment. Post-operatively, our patients can go back to the pool once the incision is well healed.
Warm water therapy is also valuable for patients with other orthopedic, neurological, and rheumatological conditions.
When my children were small we took them for swimming lessons to a warm water pool which was much more comfortable for both children and parents.
A pool with a ramp gives access to many more people who would otherwise not be able to use stairs.
Parallel bars and other therapeutic aides further expands the potential for aquatic therapy.
Lorraine Smith BPT
