Pediatric aquatic therapy

The Regional Rehabilitation Center is home to the only on-site aquatic therapy pool in the region used for group and individual pediatric therapy. Adding an aquatic program to your child’s current or future therapy treatment plan may be beneficial.

Equipped with a lift, our aquatic therapy pool is kept between 92 to 94 degrees and is an integral part of our overall rehabilitation program.

At the Regional Rehabilitation Center, we incorporate aquatic activities into virtually all of our pediatric patients’ treatment programs. One of our licensed therapists, trained in aquatic physical therapy, will recommend activities that address your child’s specific needs.

Resistance and buoyancy from the water make aquatic therapy a great exercise medium for children. In addition to providing a fun environment, aquatic therapy for children provides a number of therapeutic benefits.

• It helps increase strength and joint mobility.
• Gentle movement and light pressure from the water provide constant sensory stimulation.
• The heated pool helps relax muscles helping kids stretch easier.
• It is buoyant and comfortable, making it easier for the therapists to handle the kids.
• Exercises in the buoyant water take less effort than on land. The buoyancy from the water supports some of your child’s weight, creates resistance for muscular development and makes stretching and aerobic exercises easier for children who who need assistive devices to walk or who have difficulty tolerating land-based activities.
• The buoyancy of the water allows kids to work harder or exercise longer than they could on land.

Floatation devices, vests or head rests may be helpful for your child. Your therapist will decide which aquatic tools will help your child succeed.

Kids often forget they are “working” in aquatic therapy because we play fun games and activities using floating toys, pool basketball hoops and sensory toys to accomplish therapy goals.

Pediatric pool group

During the summer, we offer an eight-week multidisciplinary aquatic program for our pediatric patients.

With a one-to-one child-to-therapist ratio, your child will learn from the social aspects of a group class while benefiting from the individual attention provided by one of our licensed pediatric therapists.

Devoted to your child’s special needs, our therapists incorporate occupational, physical and speech therapy techniques into the class.

This fun, group program focuses on socialization, communication, structure, turn taking, following instruction, interaction between patients and following a schedule.

The class is often broken into two groups by developmental level. For more information on our pediatric summer program, call the Regional Rehabilitation Center.