Why Aquatic Therapy & Swim Lessons are Important for Fragile X Syndrome

Let’s explore the multiple benefits of choosing aquatic therapy or swim lessons for individuals with Fragile X syndrome.

The symptoms and effects of Fragile X syndrome vary greatly. Some of the more common challenges experienced include social and behavioral difficulties, learning disabilities, developmental delays, and anxiety. There is also a higher chance that someone with Fragile X also has an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis. This can make it challenging to participate in traditional therapy and activities. Aquatic therapy and swim lessons offer a unique and effective way to improve sensory regulation, coordination of movements and social opportunities.

Fragile X Syndrome & Water Safety

What is Fragile X Syndrome?

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a hereditary condition caused by a specific gene on the X chromosome becoming inactivated. This gene is essential for the creation of a protein required for healthy brain development. FXS can affect people of both sexes, though females often have milder symptoms than males. Emotional and behavioral problems are prevalent in both males and females affected by FXS. According to FRAXA Research Foundation, Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited cause of autism and intellectual disabilities worldwide.

Statistics Relating to Water Safety for Children With Fragile X Syndrome

How Adaptive Swim Lessons and Aquatic Therapy Contribute to Water Safety

Part of our mission at Swim Angelfish is to help improve water safety for children of all abilities and create a supportive, understanding environment where swim skills can flourish.

Aquatic therapy can help satiate a child’s sensory needs as well as improve their strength, coordination, endurance, verbal output and motor planning so that they are able to function as safe as possible in an aquatic environment.

Adaptive swim lessons help children develop a crucial sense of awareness for water safety and independent movement, while fostering a positive and functional relationship. The goal is to improve swim skills and independence between the child and the water.

Adaptive Swim Lessons for Fragile X Syndrome

There are so many benefits of learning to swim for children with Fragile X syndrome!

Children with FXS may have sensory processing difficulties or poor motor coordination, making them more vulnerable to drowning. Learning to swim gives swimmers the abilities they need to be safer in water environments, lowering the chance of drowning or injury. Swimming lessons also offer opportunities for social interaction and peer engagement. Children with Fragile X often struggle with social skills and may experience social anxiety or difficulty in group settings.

Benefits of Swim Lessons for Fragile X Syndrome

  • Social outlet for parallel play and communication exchanges both verbal and nonverbal.
  • Even playing field of the water where we don’t see physical challenges as pronounced as you might on land.
  • Leisure activity where you can include siblings, cousins and friends in the pool as well as in lakes and the ocean.

Aquatic Therapy for Fragile X Syndrome

Aquatic therapy can be extremely beneficial for children with Fragile X syndrome!

It might be easier for individuals with FXS to engage in the sensory-rich environment of water. Water can be particularly beneficial for individuals with FXS due to the blanket of hydrostatic pressure. This provides a constant and comforting input, aiding in sensory regulation for the swimmer. Being in the water offers opportunities to move in a gravity-eliminated environment, making some strength and coordination activities easier to perform. The water can improve respiratory function allowing the swimmer to have facilitated inhalation and exhalation by using the hydrostatic pressure of the water to assist in breathing. This may lead to more utterances or words per breath.

Benefits of Aquatic Therapy for Fragile X Syndrome

  • The water provides a unique frame of reference to deliver therapy using the multi-sensory aspects of the properties of the water. This provides different sensory experiences and improves sensory integration skills.
  • Improved endurance for those who don’t regularly participate in sustained exercise, as they work on behaviors, engagement and motor coordination.
  • Can be a precursor to adaptive swimming lessons as the therapist can address body awareness, gravitational challenges, and reflex repatterning that could be inhibiting the ability to learn to swim.

Tips for Children With Fragile X That Will Make a BIG Difference

Our Swim Whisperers® Adaptive Aquatics Training Program is the only Adaptive Aquatics Training program created by an OT/PT team that uses a therapeutic approach to assess, identify, and overcome the roadblocks that are present in children with special needs while learning to swim.

Here are some great tips when working with individuals who have Fragile X syndrome:

  • A tip from our ‘Rigidity’ roadblock
    Use a lead and follow approach with guidance from the caregiver on the best way to handle over reactions and rigid routines.
  • A tip from our ‘Intolerance of Touch’ roadblock
    Try having your swimmer wear a long sleeve shirt so that you are touching the shirt on their arm instead of their skin.
  • A tip from our ‘Seeking Sensory Input’ roadblock
    Allow swimmers the time to break the surface tension and feel the sensory-rich impact of repeated splashing and then try to turn it into a swim stroke.

Fragile X Syndrome Swim Lessons and Aquatic Therapy Near Me

We can help you find a qualified instructor or aquatic therapist to help your child with Fragile X syndrome become safer and more independent in the water.

We have highly skilled instructors certified in the Swim Whisperers® program who will work with your child to identify and address any underlying obstacles that they are experiencing with learning to swim.

We also have licensed aquatic physical, occupational and recreational therapists who will use a fun, innovative multi-sensory approach to reach specific therapy goals. We offer private, semi-private and small group sessions across multiple locations in CT, MA, NH and NY.

Interested in Learning How to Teach Swimmers with Fragile X?

You can advance your swim instructor skills today! When you get certified through the Swim Whisperers® Adaptive Aquatics Training Program, you will have access to proven and time-tested course material, strategies and techniques that will help to make life-changing differences in your swim lessons.

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.”