An Introduction to Water Therapy Equipment

by Ruth Sova, MS, an internationally known speaker, author and consultant

Starting a Therapy Pool?

Here’s a jump start on equipment you might want.

THERAPY EQUIPMENT

• Water Therapy/Exercise Flotation Rings

  – Provide security for patient flotation, for stretches and Bad Ragaz techniques. Great for added buoyancy and UE/shoulder comfort in water (especially vertical positioning in deep water).

• Water Therapy/Excercise Flotation Belts

  – Can be used around the waist in deep or shallow water. Belts provide flotation for vertical positioning but usually require the client to provide correct alignment. They are often used for core stability in trunk stabilization clients. With the client in the supine position the belt positions under and around the hips and can prevent excessive rotation. With the client in the prone position it positions under and around the pelvis and can prevent excessive lordotic curvature and rotation.

• Fillable Bar Bells

  – Can be utilized for water resistance without water inside and for proprioceptive work with water inside.

• Water Therapy/Exercise Buoyant Hand Bars

  – Provide balance and stability for walking, upper body strength and abdominal work. Get long and short styles, and small and big buoyancy pods. Thirty-inch swim bars are good for sitting (on bar) exercises like bicycling for hamstring or quad isolation, trunk stabilization exercises, and for vertical stabilization exercises in the deep water.

• Water Therapy/Exercise Buoyant and Resistant Ankle Cuffs

  – Good challenge for those needing more than unchallenged LE movement in water. Might use with a higher-level stroke to induce LE control during exercise. Also used for lower body strength and abdominal conditioning.

• Water Therapy/Exercise Ankle Weights

  – Helps keep CVA client’s leg down for relearning balance and stability.