Aquatic Therapy Exercises

Aquatic therapy exercises are a sensible choice for seniors who struggle with regular exercise or have a debilitating illness or disease which prevents them from exercising normally. Ideally, seniors who wish to perform aquatic exercises will own a pool or have the ability to visit a public or private pool as their health permits.

Aquatic therapy exercises are safe exercise for seniors due to the decreased gravity of water, which results in less stress to joints and muscles. However, due to the heightened resistance in water in comparison to air, exercises in water tend to burn more energy. Thus, seniors should have a healthy exercise from water aerobics and similar water exercises.

Water aerobics are surprisingly similar to land aerobics, as they mostly consist of exercises performed in water that can also be performed on land. Running, jumping jacks, and jumping underwater can all improve the physical fitness of a senior and serve as aquatic therapy exercises.

Alternatively, seniors interested in aquatic therapy exercises can try water pilates or water yoga to achieve a more balanced workout. Water pilates focus on strengthening the body's core, especially back and abdominal muscles. On the other hand, water yoga teaches stretching positions that improve balance and flexibility.

Seniors who cannot swim do not need to fear aquatic exercising. Flotation devices are commonly used in aquatic exercising, and seniors may also stay in shallow water if that is more comfortable. Aquatic therapy exercises should not last longer than about 45 minutes to maintain a normal body temperature. Finally, seniors with disabilities may also be interested in learning about chair exercises for seniors.