Active (or exercise) rehabilitation is a
fundamental aspect of treating, and preventing, various
injuries – particularly sports injuries. Differing health
and wellness fields – Physiotherapy vs. Chiropractic
for example – have distinct methods of treating chronic
and acute injury; however, regardless of the discipline,
all utilize active rehabilitation as an integral part
of the treatment plan. For example, if an athlete suffers
a ligament sprain in the knee (ACL, for instance), all
health practitioners understand that improving strength
and range of motion (ROM) in the knee will be pivotal
for recovery, and important to prevent re injury.
Active rehabilitation requires the patient
to complete a series of injury specific (in some cases,
sports specific) stretches and exercises to facilitate
healing, and to prevent exacerbations. Chronic injuries,
especially, require muscular reconditioning. A chronic
injury can be caused, or prolonged, by irregular (or
repetitive) movement patterns that cause some muscles
to become exceptionally strong or weak (common in swimming,
body building, racket sports, boxing, etc). For example,
Body Dynamics client Crystal Martinez (see testimonials)
has a condition called patella femoral syndrome (her
knee bone, or "patella," is positioned, therefore functions,
incorrectly in its groove). Crystal has undergone laser
treatments, Chiropractic care, and acupuncture to calm
her symptoms. However, one of the predisposing factors
to acquiring this condition is weak VMO (weak inner
quad muscles). Thus, Crystal’s specialized training
program incorporates exercises that develop strength
in her inner quad muscles (vastus medialis) and de-emphasizes
movements that favour the outer quad muscles (vastus
lateralis). Improving Crystal’s muscle balance treats
the source of the problem, whereas the passive forms
of treatment merely address the secondary symptoms (pain,
inflammation). Active rehabilitation, in Crystal's case,
is critical to end her pain cycle. Thus, active rehabilitation
uses biomechanics to identify, and independent exercise
to correct, muscular imbalances that might cause or
prolong an injury.
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Body Dynamics
has been providing aquatic active rehabilitation services
since 2002. Patients include: MVA’s (motor vehicle
accident victims), WSIB’s (work place accident
victims), and chronic pain patients. Most exercises
are performed in shallow water and do not require swimming
ability, or the submersion of the head. Aquatic therapy
is a valuable tool for individuals with limited joint
mobility (frozen shoulder, arthritis, etc), or individuals
who are unable to weight bear (ankle and knee sprains,
artificial joints, fractures, etc).
Why Water?
- Water depths can be varied to manipulate loads or
weight-bearing levels.
- Water’s natural buoyancy protects joints.
- Water’s natural buoyancy provides greater
freedom of movement and multidimensional resistance.
- Water’s buoyancy and multi-levels provide
an environment to perform exercises that might be
challenging on land. For example: body squats.
- Water provides the ability to apply the “contrast
bath” technique. Some physiotherapists use hot
and cold water, in ratios, as a blood pumping technique.
It is argued that the temperature changes cause the
lumen of the blood vessels to repeatedly narrow and
widen, pumping blood into the injured area, and swelling
out. This technique can be applied at a facility via
the hot tub and cold pool.
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