[COLOR=”Sienna”]Let me know how it goes. It’s something I’ve been thinking about doing. [/COLOR]

The nice thing about pool work is that you don’t have the full weight of your body on your feet. Less pressure makes less pain. less pain is good. You also have to work against the water, making each movement a little more challenging.

Sounds like fun !!

Ryan used to do water therapy and loved it. he can’t do it right now because he has a perma cath in for his plasma pheresis treatment but once its out he will go back to it. Just make sure you dont over do it. doing stuff in water is good but it is tiring and too much of a good thing isn’t always good. if 5 days a week is too tiring then go to 2 times a week. If your in the middle of a relapse then going 5 days a week might be too much.

Good luck and I hope y ou start feeling better.

Rhonda

I can do certain things in the water and love it but what I can do is limited! Before I moved here, I had a 60′ lap pool in my backyard and was in the pool all the time. However, my hands/arms hurt worse than my legs so I find I can’t swim or do anything that puts any pressure on my arms (have trouble pushing a grocery cart!). Water therapy (except for my hot tub ; ) mostly hurts my arms but is OK on my legs.

I go to the Y too! I am able to do a light workout on the machines with my daughter and then we go swimming. I like floating along in the ‘lazy river’ our Y has. It is a portion of the pool that has a current that pushes you along. I haven’t gotten up the nerve to take a water class yet because the one i watched was a bit too demanding so I go it on my own and at my own pace. I am usually tired once we leave too! I go home and sleep!

First let me say that water therapy is THE BEST!!!!! It alleviates all the hassles of gravity and gives you a freedom that is undescribable!!

As far as getting into the water, there is a ramp. They transfer you from your wheelchair to a ‘showerchair’. Then they roll you down the ramp until you become buyoant enough to float off the chair. Getting out of the pool is just the opposite.

If I were you, I would do anything I could to get the pool therapy. It was the first therapy I ever did and I am better for it. I could walk in water before I could walk on land!

Angela

there are places that have ramps and places that have both ramps and lifts. any respectful place would have both to accomidate all patients’ needs. water therapy works 4 times better on patients who have limitations, because the gravity effect is not there the water is very bouyant and wonderful. the temp of the pool is between 90 to 94 degrees. i will be starting my aqua therapy after the first of the month, because i can’t do landbased pt due to atrophied muscles and weakness. push for the aqua therapy, nate will love it.

I have been doing water therapy for over one year -3 days a week –move from my wheelchair onto a chair that swings over the pool and into the water.
Without question it allows for so much more activity as gravity is reduced — it can be tiring as you do not realize how much work you are doing — drink fluids when session is over .. You will be thrilled with the progress.

Robert Jones

I am currently on day 33 of my GBS onset and trying to get my Neurologist to approve OP water therapy. This thread makes me want it more. I can’t wait to recover.

Yeah,

When I was in rehab I loved water therapy. The pool water is so warm and relaxing. I was lifting into the pool out of my wheel chair by some sort of hoist chair. It was amazing to be able to stand when I couldn’t even walk yet. I was a little scared though because I like to be in control of things and I didn’t want to drown but I know they wouldnt let me do that, that was just my fears talking to me. Have fun. You do get cold when you get out so maybe he should have a robe to wrap up in.

Caroline

RIGHT ON!!!

I have used it 4 times (Stroke, Broken leg [I]twice[/I] and broke lower back) each time I heal faster than other who were in similar conditions but not able to do water therapy. The heat relaxes the muscles, less cramps, and being 220 lbs make me feel like I was tiny again.

I have been going swimming at our local YMCA for a year & a half now. I do water aerobics twice a week, in an MS supported class. At first I used the hydraulic chair to get in & out, now I just wear my braces with water shoes & can walk in & out using the railing & stairs. It has been a godsend to me, strengthening what I do have left, as well as giving me range of motion throughout my joints. Our pool is kept at about 83 degrees, which is good for me, as I tend to get overheated very easily with my CIDP.