Six days a week, a seventy-six-year-old active businessman begins his day at the local YMCA pool. This energetic, charismatic man exercises in the water before going to his office each day, and he says he feels the benefits not only on his body, but also his spirit. He was told by his doctor to “get into the water.”
Similarly, an older woman, who has had multiple knee and hip replacement surgeries, was told by her orthopedic surgeon that the best thing she could do was to “get into the pool.”
Doctors often recommend exercising in water because it has many healing effects for people of all ages. These include relief of pain and muscle spasms, increased range of motion, increased muscle strength, enhancement of balance, faster recovery from many types of surgeries, and more. Bruce Becker, in his article “Healing Waters” (2007), says there is new research to support that exercising in water “can also strengthen the muscles of respiration, which can be helpful in athletes, as well as in the rehabilitation of people with respiratory weakness or other lung disease.”
A simple explanation for the proven benefits of water therapy is that the buoyancy supports and lessens stress on the joints, allowing freer movement to occur. In addition, the water acts as a resistance to help build muscle strength. Therefore, though you must use your muscles more while in the water, it doesn’t feel strenuous. You are getting a great workout without the pressure on your joints.
I recently spoke with a pool manager who says, “People with all sorts of ailments and disabilities benefit from being in the water. It either eliminates the pain or greatly lessens it. It’s an equal opportunity medium.” So people who suffer with such physical problems as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and amputations (to name a few) greatly benefit from water exercises. The pool manager also noted that, “You do not have to swim in order to benefit from exercising in the water.” In fact, water aerobics, jogging, or walking in the water are also beneficial. However, a physician should always be consulted before beginning any exercise program.
With the evidence tallied regarding water as a healing tool, the Silver Sneakers program, a national exercise program for older adults, has added Silver Splash, a water aerobics component, to their program. Some health-care insurance companies actually offer the Silver Sneakers/Silver Splash program free of charge with many of their senior insurance policies. (Check with your insurance company to see if they offer this program.) With rising costs, programs such as Silver Splash help prevent long-term illness in the future, which in turn helps keep insurance costs down.
In addition to using water for healing the body, water can be an excellent tool for healing the spirit through relaxation. If you have ever been mesmerized by the roar of the ocean, the trickling of a creek, or the rush of a waterfall, you know that even the sound of water is relaxing. Being IN the water is even more so.
Whether you are floating on aqua waves in the Caribbean, swimming laps in a pool, or lolling in your own bathtub (or spa), water is a gentle friend that helps erase the tensions of the day. And if you are seeking an exercise program for yourself or someone else that is perfect for any age, that will increase serenity as well as strength, flexibility, balance, and more, give the water a splash!
Carl R. Johnson
Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®
Community Relations Director
Abiding HomeCare
Silverdale, WA
