Critique of Aquatic Therapy: A Viable Therapeutic Recreation Intervention
Michelle Chapman
Brigham Young University
Critique of Aquatic Therapy: A Viable Therapeutic Recreation Intervention
Article Summary
This article found, in the Therapeutic Recreation Journal, details the benefits that aquatic therapy has on an individual. Results yielded from a study showed that swimming and exercise activity decreased pain, prevented bone loss, increased strength and endurance, improved pulmonary functioning, improved body image, decreased depression, and enhanced mood. The study involved assigning groups of individuals to a specific exercise regimen. For example, some people were assigned to have aquatic therapy 2 times a week for 45 minutes each, etc. After the findings of the research, details are given of how Aquatic Therapy is growing more popular and customary among insurance companies and doctors.
Article Strengths
The article was very interesting to read and was written in such a way that the average person could understand the premise. Instead of just focusing on one specific area that Aquatic Therapy can help, the authors list several benefits that were observed in the subjects. Listing the multiple areas gives the study more credibility and proves a stronger case for why Aquatic Therapy is beneficial to those with disabilities. It was also very obvious by the statistical facts that the research was well conducted and documented.
Another strength of the article is that it addresses not only physical benefits, but also psychological benefits which are just as crucial to those with disabilities. Some of the psychological benefits Aquatic Therapy were documented to help were things such as improving one’s socialization skills in the water, enhancing mood, and decreasing depression. The article states, “…suggested that since swimming…can facilitate deep, rhythmical and diaphragmatic breathing, which is a common element in many stresss reductions techniques, the rhythmical breathing may facilitate mood alteration” (Broach, Dattilo, 1996). As a person with a disability, these things can be just as important as learning to live with said disability.
Article Weaknesses
I didn’t find that the article had very many weaknesses. The biggest weakness is that most of the psychological aspects are not concrete. It is hard to have a steady measure of one’s happiness, for example, because every person has a different definition of happy.
Article Action
This article seems to me, like a strong call to action to have more people take advantage of the benefits of Aquatic Therapy. It is mostly informative to demonstrate to others just how wonderful it is and what it has done for some people. I think Aquatic Therapy is gradually becoming more popular, but this article is a strong advocate as to why it should be used more often. When this article was written in 1996 Aquatic Therapy was still fairly new, however, since then it has become much more common. Hopefully many people have seen this article and its findings and have decided to give Aquatic Therapy a try.
Personal Reaction
This article fascinated me for many reasons. I have taught swim lessons for about six years and in that time I have had the opportunity to work with kids with disabilities in the water. I have seen how the water sets them free and teaches them new things. In addition to that, I lifeguarded all throughout high school and I loved that I could see people roll up to the pool in a wheel chair, get into the water, and be just as mobile as any other person. There were specific water classes for people with MS and arthritis that would allow them to get exercise and relaxation without the burden of gravity. The buoyancy and warmth of the water decreased their pain and gave them a short period of relief. Further than that, as I guarded and observed these group classes, I saw a special camaraderie between the members of these classes because they were in similar situations. They would constantly chat while doing their exercises which would boost their spirits which would make them work harder which would increase their muscle movement, etc. It was a very positive chain reaction. They were also frequently encouraging each other to work through the pain and to not give up. It was really interesting to observe these classes and the impact they had on the members. It always uplifted me to see how happy the guests were and how much they loved the water.
Reading this article reminded me of how much I enjoy the water and its therapeutic aspects. While I was pondering this thought the other day, I came to the realization that I would love to use my knowledge and skills of swimming in my line of Therapeutic Recreation. I want to be able to help those with disabilities realize that they can have freedom and enjoy themselves while having many other benefits on the side. I hope to be able to do the training necessary to work with people in the water and see their life change.
References
Broach E. & Dattilo J. (1996). Aquatic Therapy: A Viable Therapeutic Recreation Intervention.
Therapeutic Recreation Journal. Retrieved from http://www.js.sagamorepub.com/trj/Aquatic-Therapy.
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