About Aquatic Physiotherapy

The therapuetic benefits of warm water have been known for thousands of years. Pairing this with current knowledge of evidence-based therapeutic interventions, the properties of water can be harnessed and manipulated to create the desired effect of either supporting or resisting movement, stretching or strenghtening muscles, making a movement easier or more challenging.

During one-to-one sessions, Lyndall will be with you (or your loved one) in the pool and close to you. At no time will you be left unattended. Being able to swim is not a pre-requisite; indeed Lyndall has worked with many children and adults who are unable to swim. Please reach out if you have any questions about whether this is right for you.

Paediatric Physiotherapy

The water is a great place for kids to have therapy. It provides a naturally playful environment where children can learn and practice skills with reduced effects of gravity. This develops their motor patterning, balance and co-ordination, which they can then transfer to land-based skills. All while playing and having fun.

Aquatic Physiotherapy is suitable for children with cerebral palsy, delayed gross motor milestones, Downs Syndrome, low muscle tone, autism, and low exercise tolerance to name a few.

Lyndall also includes water orientation and basic water skills in her sessions where required. Swimming is not a pre-requisite.

Aquatic Neuro-Physiotherapy

Neurophysiotherapy is a specialist branch of physiotherapy dedicated to improving the function of patients with physical impairment caused by neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy, stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. It is tailored to the specific needs of each individual with a personalised goal-oriented target, and utilizes the brain's ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections, a process called neuroplasticity. Neuro-physiotherapists employ a variety of techniques, including hands-on therapy and exercise to improve movement patterns, muscle strength, balance, and coordination.

Bringing this practice into the water allows Lyndall to harness the properties and benefits of the aquatic environment to neurophysiotherapy principles.

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The Benefits of Warmth

The warmth of a heated pool provides an ideal environment to allow tight muscles, tendons and ligaments and fascia to relax and stretch, keeping us comfortable and calm and allowing us to open up spaces in our bodies that we previously may not have been able to access.

Harnessing Bouyancy

When immersed in water, gravity is counteracted by the upwards force of the water. This is bouyancy. Bouyancy changes depending on depth and surface area; the effects of gravity can be increased or decreased to change the demands of a movement.

The water is an excellent environment to work on anti-gravity skills and postures. Working in a low-gravity environment makes it easier to perform challenging movements, helping us develop anti-gravity skills and motor patterns that may be difficult to practice on land.

Bouyancy decreases the load placed on the joints, allowing them to decompress and open up, giving us access to increased range of motion.

Exploiting Resistance

As we move through water we create turbulence and drag. These forces can be used to make a movement easier or more difficult and provide the 'just-right' strengthening challenge. We can also feel these effects when we move through the water with improper muscle balance and can use this to learn muscle control.

The viscosity of the water increases fall time, allowing more time for correction (balance reactions), which is when motor learning can take place.