PRACTICING AQUATIC THERAPY AS AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
PRACTICING AQUATIC THERAPY AS AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
This website serves to:
Educate occupational therapists and OT students on aquatic therapy
Advocate for more occupational therapists to practice aquatic therapy
Provide occupational therapists and OT students with educational resources to gain knowledge in aquatic therapy
Aquatic therapy is therapeutic treatment performed in the water by a licensed therapist. The physical properties of water reduce the stress placed on joints and create a comforting environment which allows patients to perform movements that they are unable to perform or tolerate as well on land due to pain, weakness, injury, or disability.
Aquatic therapy is a nontraditional area of practice which OTs can utilize to improve the functionality, independence, and quality of life in many patients.
It is a common assumption that aquatic therapy is only a physical therapy practice area- although the majority of practitioners who practice aquatic therapy are PTs, OTs are able to do it as well.
When viewing aquatic therapy from an occupational therapy perspective, a holistic approach can be used to identify each patient’s occupations and barriers presented which impact occupational performance.
Identification of these barriers enables us to select aquatic interventions which address the patient’s specific deficits.
The aquatic therapy plan of care must be functional
Think FUNCTION! This is key to staying on track with an occupation-based approach to treatment in the pool.
All interventions completed in the pool should be purposefully done in order to progress a patient towards meeting their functional goals on land (goals related to ADLs, IADLs, functional mobility, etc.).
The majority of interventions done in the water are unable to closely simulate ADLs, IADLs, etc. However, keep in mind that each intervention’s purpose should build upon skills required for ADL task performance on land.
The pool offers a great environment to begin self-care re-education!
Typically, goals for a patient are written during their evaluation on land.
Treatment in the pool should support and aim for the patient to reach those occupation-based goals.