United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

My husband and I are arguing about the aquatic therapy. He said that it would not do any good to enroll Alexyss in therapy now because she has not had surgery yet. Even if not, I think it would be good for her. When would be an appropriate time? The OT said she thought it would be a great idea. If anyone has done it before therapy, did it help and what did it do exactly? Sorry about all the questions; I guess everyone has their bouts with them.

I'm not sure I understand what your husband is saying. Is he saying that it wouldn't do good to do any therapy prior to surgery or just Aqua therapy in particular? Aqua therapy is just another type of PT/OT. The aqua therapy can help with whatever areas you focus on, just as land therapy does. Of course, if surgery is recommended, then therapy alone won't always eliminate the need for surgery at some point (although it might if the injury is not as severe). Regardless of surgery though, therapy is for lifetime (at least to some extent) for BPIs (except for the ones that spontaneously recover early on). Aqua therapy is definitely great post-op, but it certainly would be beneficial at any time, esp. if the OT is recommending it. Does Alexyss have surgery scheduled? I would go ahead with the aqua therapy and give it a try. It can only help. Plus, if Alexyss likes the water, then it will be a lot of fun for her and won't seem like "work" so much as the land therapy does. It's hard for me to pinpoint specifically what improvements Nicole has made are attributed to what treatment, as we've done so many things (surgeries, land PT/OT, Aqua PT/OT, estim, etc.). What I do know is that her range is always better at the end of her aqua therapy session than it is at the beginning. Her therapist and I kinda joke about it how her arm is sometimes like jelly after therapy b/c her muscles have really warmed up and loosened up so much in the warm water. As far as goals, the aqua therapist and you would sit down together and write up goals. The way Nicole's Aqua PT does it is to perform an initial land evaluation before she writes up a treatment plan for the pool. I guess you can see I'm very passionate about this b/c I believe it is very beneficial therapy for our children. Email me if you'd like. -Tina )

Tracey - I just wrote something up about aquatics for Brenda's new portal page -- here are two exerpts from it:


WHY WATER?

Buoyancy of the water, allows for a freedom of movement not possible on land. It yields low-impact, injury-free exercise.

Resistance of the water increases muscle strength and is constant.

Hydrostatsic pressure of the water increases blood and lymph circulation and provides a strengthening opportunity for the breathing muscles.

The injured patient is able to rebuild damaged muscle without exposing it to pain and stress, which is usually the case with land exercises.

It's fun and anything that is fun is also empowering!


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"Water exercise is the most like isokinetic strength-training in that resistance increases as the patient attempts to increase the speed of movement. Resistance changes according to the amount of force the patient generates at every joint angle (and thus at multiple muscle length-tension relationships). Water-based exercise also has the same protective features (the resistance disappears when patient quits pushing) as isokinetic exercise. However, water exercise is more complicated than isokinetic exercise. Resistance doesn't come from the speed of movement alone; it also comes from the combined effect of gravity, buoyancy, viscosity, surface tension, turbulence, and momentum. Thus, the therapist has near infinite permutations and combinations to offer the patient." Andrea Poteat Salzman, MS, PT, Aquatic Resources Network.



Tracey- I think the outside of all the 'facts' - the most important thing of aquatics is that it is SERIOUS therapy that is also seriously FUN. It really helps with issues of therapy burnout, non-compliance issues, etc. Plus there is increased Range in the water.

And here's the big one..... if there was any one thing that the docs recommend for the children it is to be in the water DAILY. It's right on the therapy protocol sheet we have.

good luck,
francine

I beleive that you need to start the aqua therapy now. Out son took swim lessons at age two and started aqua therapy after his mod quad surgery. Luckily we found a therapist that did children and aqua therapy.

If you can start now, your child will be used to the water and necessary stretching, etc. that will be necessary. The second and most important is that your child will develop a comfort and trust in the therapist.

If you can do this prior to the soreness and everything that accompanies a surgery, then you will be miles ahead in terms of beginning the therapy. The therapy is time consuming, but stick with it. The surgery tries to fix the injury but the therapy is what really determines success.

Good luck - Bill