Water: Good for the mind, body, and soul

by arslan_ahmed | February 9, 2023 10:30 am

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By Marley Cunningham

Water is a magical thing. It makes up more than half of the human body, covers over 70 per cent of the entire world, and is essential to all living things. Since the beginning of time, people have been drawn to water and its natural healing abilities—and for good reason. This instinctual draw to water has evolved from ancient Grecian bath houses to the modernized and science driven aquatic therapy that is seen today. What was once thought to be reserved for only the most privileged and wealthy, can now be found in millions of backyards throughout North America. Pools are a place where communities come together, where athletes can crank up resistance, and where physical therapy allows patients to move in ways never previously thought possible.

Society today is in a place of increased health awareness, perpetually seeking more unique and effective ways to improve quality of life. While aquatic therapy has indeed been around for a long time, it has only recently been recognized as one of the most effective forms of physical therapy—especially for people with limited mobility and neurological diseases.

Mike Tran, a physical therapist at the Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana, says sometimes, it is the only option. He also emphasizes the importance of the equipment that makes aquatic therapy possible.

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“We get a lot of patients where the pool is really the only safe, non-weight bearing environment for them, and we use it every day. The pool adds such a soothing and therapeutic environment to aid in recovery, and there are so many patients that would not be able to utilize the pool at all without a pool lift. The lift becomes not a convenience, but a necessity. It is invaluable.”

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Making aquatic therapy possible

As aquatic therapy in rehabilitation settings increases in popularity, industry manufacturers are focused now more than ever on developing equipment that not only facilitates recovery, but also allows people of many different abilities to access and take advantage of its benefits.

Historically, pools were typically designed to cater only to able-bodied people; oftentimes, leaving those who needed the water the most, unable to access it. However, since 2010, revisions have been made to accessibility standards and codes to include pools. As a result, a major shift in societal thinking has been paving the way for an increasing number of people to be able to enjoy all the benefits aquatics has to offer.

Now, with developments such as pool lifts and zero-depth entry pools, more people can start improving their quality of life. A wonderful aspect about water is its ability to provide not only low-resistance therapy, but also an incredible full body workout.

When it comes to exercise and rehabilitation, water can be used in many ways. On one hand, one’s buoyancy alone can be used to aid mobility, on the other hand, the natural resistance water provides can also be used to increase workout efficiency and intensity. Since water offers 12 to 14 times more resistance than land-based exercise alone—in addition to aiding in body temperature regulation—athletes from all around the world use aquatic training in their regular routines. Innovations in aquatic fitness equipment, such as swim spas, underwater pool bikes, and treadmills help fitness professionals take advantage of these benefits in fun and unique ways that help them target different muscle groups. Recent studies have also shown regular aquatic exercise can improve heart health and cardiovascular strength, balance and flexibility, and build endurance.

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Further, studies have shown swimming can even improve mental health in several ways. It is known that decreased physical activity is directly correlated with increased levels of depression. So, it makes sense that people with limited mobility might be struggling the most with the inability to do the one thing they need to improve their mental health and, therefore, would benefit immensely from an activity that allowed them to move easily and without pain.

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This is especially important during the winter months, when people of all ages and abilities tend to decrease their physical activity, swimming can be an excellent way to fight seasonal depression. In fact, the aquatic exercise industry has grown exponentially in recent years, especially since the pandemic, which opened the market up to a whole new group of people looking for ways to stay active from the comfort of home.

The benefits of aquatic therapy are immeasurable

As homeowners, aquatic centres, and community recreation facilities alike catch on to this trend (which is here for the long haul), the industry is only projected to grow from here. In new research commissioned by Swim England, swimming has been deemed the “number one indoor activity for parents and toddlers.” The activity not only aids in development for the youngsters, but it also encourages better sleep, improves co-ordination, and provides something even more intangible: parent-child bonding.

The benefits to aquatic therapy and exercise are innumerable, and thanks to modern science, society is constantly learning more about the positive aspects it has on one’s health and well-being, in addition to the many ways it can benefit humanity. Living in a world where information is always at the tip of one’s fingers, it is not knowledge that holds back the further development of these revelations, but the physical barriers that continue to deny access.

For a portion of the population without a pool or spa in their backyard, the social responsibility is left on the shoulders of public commercial pool owners to ensure their facilities are accessible to people of all abilities. People with disabilities make up the largest minority group in the entire world; however, society still tends to cater to a one-size-fits-all mentality. The importance of ensuring accessibility cannot be understated—and, ultimately, public pool owners have immense potential to realize their own benefits as well by seeing increased attendance to their pools.

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Whether it is the perfect, low-impact backyard gym, a group class that people look forward to all week, or the bonding moment that connects families, these bodies of water have so much more to offer than many people realize. Hats off to those in the industry making the world a better place every day through aquatics (whether they realize it or not).

 

Resources

Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA)—www.phta.org[7]

United States Water Fitness (USWF)—www.uswfa.com[8]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—www.cdc.gov[9]

National Library of Medicine (NLM)—www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6585867[10]

Institute of Swimming—www.swimming.org[11]

Author

Marley Cunningham is the director of marketing at Aqua Creek Products in Missoula, Montana. She can be reached at mcunningham@aquacreek.com.

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/features/water-good-for-the-mind-body-and-soul/

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