Everything You Need to Know About Pediatric Aquatic Therapy

Pediatric Aquatic Therapy

What is aquatic therapy and how does it work for the pediatric population? Most children with special needs will benefit from aquatic therapy. The therapeutic qualities of water are a wonderful alternative to or can complement traditional therapies for a variety of diagnoses including Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and any sensory-motor challenges. We share some of the reasons why you might expand your child’s services to include Aquatic Occupational, Physical and Recreation Therapy.

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What is Aquatic Therapy?

What exactly is Aquatic Therapy? We like to think of this as a method of purposeful exercises and treatment progressions in the water targeting specific muscle groups. It can support rehabilitation, physical activity, strength, self-regulation, respiration, oral motor skills, sensory integration goals and so much more. Sounds ideal, right?

Aquatic therapy is provided by specially trained aquatic professionals such as aquatic physical therapists, aquatic occupational therapists and aquatic recreational therapists who develop tailored plans to meet a client’s therapy goals. It complements land-based therapy using specific handling techniques for strengthening, balance reactions, relaxation and sensory integration, combined with the magical properties of the water to transform your treatment. In the water, gravity is virtually eliminated so that people with physical disabilities are able to move more freely. The hydrostatic pressure of the water provides the deep pressure that many individuals with sensory issues are seeking. So, how do you know if it’s right for your child?

Pediatric Aquatic Therapy

Benefits of Aquatic Therapy

Let’s take a quick look at the incredible benefits of aquatic therapy. These include the ability to:

  • Strengthen and stabilize core muscles.

  • Improve visual motor skills, balance, coordination, motor planning and independence with motor skills.

  • Provides sensory input for self-regulation.

  • Helps to integrate primitive reflexes and movement patterns.
  • Increase flexibility for range of motion.
  • Decrease pain and help recovery from an injury.
  • Improve safety and independence in the water, as it pertains to therapy goals.

  • Aquatic therapy can prepare any child for a more effective adaptive swimming lesson.

Aquatic Therapy Bridges the Gap for Social and Community Activities

Aquatic Therapy can improve water experiences so that families begin to feel more confident and comfortable during recreational and leisure outings. This allows more opportunities for social development and water safety.

Each aquatic therapy session provides water-safety guidance and helps to develop routines and rituals for families to follow. This supports them so that their child can learn how to be safe in, near and around lakes, pools and oceans. Parent education on how to enter, exit and maintain a safe water experience will improve the social experience options for their special needs children.

Pediatric Aquatic Therapy

Which Conditions can Aquatic Therapy Treat?

Almost anyone can benefit from aquatic therapy, regardless of age or physical limitation. We specialize in aquatic therapy for children with a variety of special needs and have seen first-hand how amazing and enjoyable this water treatment can be.

Aquatic Therapy can be helpful for children with conditions such as:

How Does Aquatic Therapy Work?

Traditional aquatic therapy for adults combines the therapeutic properties of the water with traditional therapy techniques to achieve controlled movements with less pressure on weight-bearing joints.

For specialized pediatric aquatic therapy with special needs clients, we use the properties of the water to improve body awareness, address gravitational insecurity and offer innovative movement progressions to improve attention and motor coordination. With specialized training in pediatrics, you will reach goals faster in a fun and motivating environment.

Therapeutic Properties of the Water

Aquatic Therapy is effective because it uses the buoyancy, viscosity, surface tension and the hydrostatic pressure of the water, which provides multiple options for sensory input to progress towards therapy goals.

The therapist can use these magical properties to make movement easier or to increase resistance and make it harder, within seconds. Strength, coordination, and motor planning are common challenges that our therapy clients face. By using these properties, we can make our therapy sessions fun and engaging. The water provides access to movements that give input to the body that is unavailable on land. For example, the deep pressure you can get from going underwater gives a large amount of hydrostatic pressure to your entire body. This releases the neurochemical, dopamine, which washes away adrenaline. This helps the child to become more regulated.

Whether you are working on self-regulation, motor planning or trying to achieve a developmental milestone there are multiple ways to progress towards your therapy goals, within an aquatic therapy session.

Pediatric Aquatic Therapy
Looking for Aquatic Therapist Training?

We can give you the tools you need to help special needs clients achieve therapy goals and improve their independence in the water.

Learn new treatment and handling techniques, understand how to integrate reflexes and overcome roadblocks to help your pediatric clients achieve their therapy goals. We have 4 in-depth online courses to choose from.

Our online training courses will help you strengthen your aquatic therapy skills and allow you to earn CEU’s. Our on-demand platform makes learning flexible to fit into your schedule.

Dive into Our Specialized Pediatric Aquatic Therapy Program!

The unique program that Swim Angelfish offers is created by an OT/PT team with over 60 years combined experience. We have experienced Recreation, Occupational, and Physical therapists who are specifically trained in pediatric aquatic therapy. We use a fun, innovative and multi-sensory approach using the therapeutic properties of the water to reach your specific therapy goals.

We can help improve self-regulation, motor coordination, strength, balance, endurance, and more. There are several options for therapy sessions depending on your needs, including private, semi-private, and small group sessions.

Ailene Tisser, MA, PT, Founder

Ailene Tisser, a pediatric Physical Therapist with over 30 years of experience and co-founder of Swim Angelfish® and the Swim Whisperers® method, specializes in aquatic therapy and adaptive swim for children with special needs. Trained in NDT, DIR/Floortime, and certified as an Autism Specialist and Primitive Reflex Specialist she fosters water safety, confidence, and independence in her young clients. Ailene is also passionate about educating aquatic professionals, setting a standard of excellence for adaptive aquatics training and professional development.

Cindy Freedman, MOTR, Founder

Cindy, MS, OTR/L is an occupational and recreational therapist with over 30 years of experience specializing in pediatrics and aquatics. Driven by a passion for helping children with special needs reach their full potential, Cindy co-founded Swim Angelfish, an organization dedicated to providing adaptive swim and aquatic therapy services as well as professional training. Her expertise in sensory integration, reflex repatterning, and aquatics, coupled with her love for water and experience as a national champion diver, has enabled her to make a profound impact on the lives of countless children. Cindy is certified as an Autism Specialist by IBCCES, and shows an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of children with special needs.