Buoyancy Is Your Friend AQUATIC EXERCISE MAY BE BETTER THAN LAND EXERCISE FOR KNEE PAIN FROM OSTEOARTHRITIS
Water’s buoyant properties are very beneficial for addressing your knee osteoarthritis.
When you submerge yourself waist-deep in water, you become 50% lighter. When the water reaches your neck, your apparent weight is only 10% of that on land. This means that as you exercise in water, you experience less pain and greater mobility!
The aquatic environment has many other advantages. Drag forces (viscosity and turbulence) provide resistance to movement, strengthening your muscles and improving your balance. Hydrostatic pressure helps reduce swelling and strengthens your diaphragm (the muscle involved with breathing).
Researchers have found that aquatic physical therapy had a positive effect on the pain, physical function, knee extension muscle strength, and walking ability among people with knee osteoarthritis. Remember: You must exercise at least twice a week at a high enough intensity for strengthening to see long-term results.
If you have knee or hip arthritis, enjoy the water, and want to feel better, move better and live better, get started today with water exercise.
Not sure where to start? Call us today at (858) 675-1133 and book an appointment with our aquatic therapy specialists to design a program that meets your needs and goals.
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