1. Water makes a body buoyant. Standing in water up to your chest reduces the effects of gravity by 80%. For someone having difficulty bearing weight on a herniated disc, this changes everything. Once in the aquatic environment, it’s possible to exercise without pain. With an acute lumbar HNP, after a day or two of rest and minimal activity, it’s important to start moving and water makes is easy.
2. The warm water of a therapy pool loosens tight muscles and increases blood flow. Blood carries oxygen to injured areas and facilitates healing. Immersion in warm water along with room to move is an ideal equation for speeding up healing.
3. The treadmill in a Hydroworx Therapy pool allows a patient to walk slowly in a buoyant environment. This puts minimal strain on the irritated area of the lumbar region and lets the patient walk normally without pain.
4. The massage hose is used to apply gentle or deep tissue massage in the water. This relieves muscle spasm and loosens tight regions. The massage hose can even be used to gently massage the length of the sciatic nerve to free up trapped fibers.
5. Anyone with a severe HNP will tell you that it’s stressful to have severe pain and not be able to do their normal daily activities. Lying on the surface of a warm pool, supported with a life vest and noodles is an extremely effective way of relaxing the body and mind, paving the road to recovery.
Once symptoms are relieved and some function is restored, the patient should gradually be transitioned to land treatment and exercise.
Aquatic therapy with an experienced aquatic therapist is an ideal modality for someone with a lumbar HNP. Recovery is faster and complications associated with prolonged are avoided.
For more information about Aquatic Therapy, visit
http://www.wspt.org/aquatic-therapy/