Aquatic Therapy is Your Answer to Improved Patient Care

As a dedicated physical or occupational therapist, you’re constantly striving to provide the best possible care for your pediatric clients, empowering them to function more independently and have a meaningful and fulfilled life.

Have you ever considered using the modality of the water to help you achieve these goals faster? Aquatic therapy provides a wealth of benefits for your patients, from increased strength and flexibility to improved motor skills and social interaction.

By investing in aquatic therapy training, you’ll gain valuable new skills that can elevate your practice and enhance your ability to attain patient goals.

Learn all about the benefits of working in the water, as well as the continuing education opportunities available to help you integrate aquatic therapy into your current skill set and service offerings.

The Unique Advantages of Water-Based Therapy

Aquatic therapy offers a unique and effective approach to rehabilitation, leveraging the therapeutic properties of water to enhance patient outcomes. By immersing clients in water, therapists can leverage several key advantages of water therapy:

  • The Therapeutic Properties of the Water
    Hydrostatic pressure provides the deep pressure your sensory clients are craving. The viscosity and buoyancy will make movements easier to motor plan and help strengthen weaker muscles that have a hard time moving against gravity.
  • Working on Multiple Sites at Once
    We all strive for efficiency, and aquatic therapy delivers. Imagine working on multiple skills at once! During an aquatic therapy session, sensory input is provided by moving in different ways in the water, while specialized handling techniques and equipment are incorporated for core strengthening. In addition, visual motor skills can be worked on as well as encouraging speech goals by motivating clients to reach for different toys. This multi-faceted approach leads to faster goal attainment and better carryover to land-based activities.
  • Improved Independence
    Aquatic therapy empowers individuals to develop essential life skills, such as swimming and water safety. By practicing these skills in a supportive and controlled environment, clients can gain confidence and independence in the water. This increased independence can positively impact overall well-being, open up recreational opportunities, and potentially save lives. Yes, it’s true, Aquatic Therapy can save a life.
  • Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT) Work on the Same Things in the Water
    This is an important concept as sometimes families need both OT and PT and aren’t sure which to start with. When you are working in the water you are combining sensory integration for self-regulation, with core strengthening, visual motor skills, motor planning and balance reaction and independence with function. These are goals that are worked on in both OT and PT. The sensory rich environment of working in the water combined with the skilled handling by the therapist helps with the crossover between disciplines, enabling both therapists to address common goals and work on these very beneficial skills.

Continuing Education Opportunities for OT’s and PT’s

Aquatic therapy offers numerous benefits for rehabilitation. So how do you learn how to successfully transition into the world of aquatic therapy and provide effective and innovative care for your clients?

We believe that education is the key to professional growth. Our continuing education courses are designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in aquatic therapy. As global leaders in Adapted Aquatics, we have specialized in pediatric aquatic therapy for over 25 years. Our expertise spans the entire pediatric age range, from infancy to young adulthood.

We have shared this expertise and knowledge through our online training courses.

  • Aquatic Therapy Courses
    Specifically for Aquatic Therapists, our comprehensive online course, Totally Treatment, offers a 5-hour deep dive into the world of aquatic therapy. Learn how to harness the therapeutic properties of water and employ a variety of specialized handling techniques to optimize patient outcomes and effectively achieve your clients therapy goals. By mastering these skills, you can make a significant impact on the lives of your clients.

    We also have a variety of other online aquatic therapy courses such as Splashing Into Reflexes which focuses on integrating primitive reflexes in the water.

  • Adaptive Learn To Swim Course
    If you are looking to further enhance your skills in promoting water safety and independence, our in-depth online Adaptive Swim Whisperers® certification program is the ideal solution. This program will equip you with advanced techniques and strategies to effectively support your clients in aquatic environments and is a great addition to your therapy toolbox to promote more independence and water safety.
  • In-Person Training
    Once you complete our online training you have the opportunity to attend or host an in-person water workshop to further refine your aquatic therapy skills.
  • Inclusion and Diversity Course
    If your facility offers inclusive programs, our online continuing education courses can empower your staff to overcome challenges and promote inclusion in a variety of recreational settings. Our Adapted Skills course provides training on strategies for inclusive recreation, extending beyond the pool to a wide range of leisure activities.

Make An Impact

We believe that a collaborative approach is essential to enhance water safety, particularly for individuals with special needs. To support this mission, we’ve created a variety of free resources, including an adaptive water safety toolkit, free mini-courses for parents/caregivers and lifeguards, and a blog packed full of adaptive aquatics advice. These resources are designed to benefit lifeguards, parents, caregivers, and aquatic professionals alike.

Additionally, our Swim Angelfish YouTube channel offers a wealth of informative videos and tips. Explore our various playlists to gain valuable insights and practical guidance.

By embracing aquatic therapy, you can unlock your patients’ full potential, enhance your clinical expertise, and make a lasting impact on their lives.

Ailene Tisser, MA, PT, Founder

Ailene is a pediatric Physical Therapist with more than 25 years of experience treating a variety of diagnoses, both in and out of the water. She is NDT (Neuro-Developmental Treatment) trained in pediatrics and is trained in DIR/Floortime. She is currently certified as an Autism Specialist by IBCCES. Ailene brings all of her Physical Therapy expertise into the water, where she helps children of all abilities feel safe, confident, and independent. She combines her passion and skill for working with children with special needs with the therapeutic properties of the water to achieve amazing results. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience by educating other Aquatic Professionals so that they can also make a significant impact on the lives of swimmers with special needs.

Cindy Freedman, MOTR, Founder

Cindy is a recreational therapist and an Occupational therapist. After working for ten years as a recreational therapist in a variety of settings, she pursued a Master’s degree in OT. Her career as an OT includes specialty training in sensory integration, reflex repatterning, and aquatics. She is currently certified as an Autism Specialist by IBCCES. As a swimmer and national champion diver, Her love of the water combined with her education and work experience created them an opportunity for Swim Angelfish to become a reality! “Our mission is to create an aquatic community of trained instructors so that together we can decrease the alarming statistic of drowning being the leading cause of death for children with special needs.”