Aquatic Therapy in Allen, TX
Summary
Athletic Advantage Physical Therapy offers individualized aquatic therapy at our Allen, TX clinic using a HydroWorx underwater treadmill.
Water's natural buoyancy reduces the amount of body weight placed through the joints compared with exercising on land, creating a supported, lower-impact environment for movement and exercise.
Aquatic therapy may be incorporated into treatment for orthopedic injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation, arthritis and joint pain, weight-bearing limitations, or when exercising comfortably on land is difficult.
Key Takeaways
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AAPT offers aquatic therapy using a HydroWorx underwater treadmill at our Allen, TX clinic.
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Water's buoyancy creates a supported, lower-impact environment for movement and therapeutic exercise.
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Aquatic therapy may be appropriate during post-surgical rehabilitation, orthopedic recovery, arthritis and joint pain, or when weight-bearing on land is difficult.
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The HydroWorx system includes an underwater treadmill, resistance jets and underwater viewing that allows your therapist to observe movement.
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You don't need to know how to swim to participate in aquatic therapy.
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Aquatic therapy can work alongside land-based physical therapy as your needs change throughout recovery.
Prescribing Aquatic Therapy for Injuries
We prescribe HYDROWORX aquatic therapy when individuals are in a great deal of pain and are not able to put full weight on limbs. Aquatic therapy helps patients start rehabilitation much sooner because water provides a non-weight bearing environment. The buoyancy of the water supports the body and reduces body weight by up to 80%. Once you are in the pool, you can start performing non-weight bearing activities sooner than if you were at a traditional physical therapy gym.
Aquatic Therapy provides low or no impact resistance, has a positive impact on motion and flexibility, reduces pressure to joints, and can increase the blood flow to injured areas. It is also an effective treatment for osteoarthritis, and reduces muscle and joint pain in middle-aged and older adults with orthopedic limitations and discomfort. It enhances strength and improves flexibility when combined with resistance training.
The unique aspects and benefits of Aquatic Therapy include:
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Optimizing non-impact environment for your pain relief
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Variable speed underwater treadmill
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Resistance jets for therapy, rehabilitation, sports performance training, and swimming
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Underwater massage to relieve your muscle spasms
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Underwater cameras & biomechanical monitoring system
Aquatic Therapy results include:
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Improved flexibility and core strength
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Decreased inflammation to damaged muscles and nerves
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Speedier recovery process by initiating therapy in a low-impact environment
What Is Aquatic Therapy?
Aquatic therapy is physical therapy performed in water instead of, or in combination with, traditional land-based treatment.
The biggest difference is buoyancy.
When you're in water, your body doesn't have to support the same amount of weight it does on land. That can make walking, strengthening and other movements more manageable when pain, injury, surgery or weight-bearing limitations make land-based exercise difficult.
For some patients, the pool provides a supported environment to begin moving when the same activity on land may be difficult.
And as you progress, your treatment can progress with you.
Why Water Can Help During Rehabilitation
Water's natural buoyancy reduces the amount of body weight placed through the joints compared with exercising on land. This can create a more comfortable, lower-impact environment for walking, strengthening and therapeutic exercise.
For some patients, that support can make movement more manageable when pain, injury, surgery or weight-bearing limitations make land-based exercise difficult.
Water also provides natural resistance during movement, giving your physical therapist another way to work on mobility, strength, control and endurance.
Rather than thinking of aquatic therapy as simply "exercise in a pool," we use the water as another tool within your individualized physical therapy plan.
AAPT's HydroWorx Underwater Treadmill
AAPT uses a HydroWorx aquatic therapy system with an underwater treadmill designed for rehabilitation, exercise and movement.
The combination of water's buoyancy and the underwater treadmill creates a supported, lower-impact environment where patients can work on walking, movement and exercise.
Features of our HydroWorx system include:
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Underwater treadmill for walking or running at a pace appropriate for the patient
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Water resistance that can be used during therapeutic movement and exercise
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Resistance jets that may be incorporated into appropriate exercises
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Underwater viewing that allows the therapist to observe walking and movement
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Underwater massage features that may be incorporated when appropriate
These features give us another way to individualize treatment based on your mobility, tolerance and goals.
Signs Aquatic Therapy Might Help You
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You can't put full weight on an injured limb after surgery or an acute injury.
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Pain limits how much land-based exercise or physical therapy you can tolerate right now.
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You're managing osteoarthritis or chronic joint pain that flares up with impact.
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You want to build strength and range of motion without adding stress to a healing joint.
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Land-based physical therapy alone hasn't moved your recovery forward as quickly as you'd like.
Who May Benefit From Aquatic Therapy?
Aquatic therapy isn't just for one type of patient. It may be considered when:
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Pain makes walking or exercising on land difficult
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You're unable to comfortably tolerate full weight through an injured or healing limb
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You're recovering from orthopedic surgery
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Arthritis or joint pain makes higher-impact activity uncomfortable
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You're working to rebuild mobility, strength or endurance
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You need a lower-impact environment as part of your rehabilitation
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You're transitioning back toward land-based exercise or activity
Whether aquatic therapy is appropriate depends on your individual evaluation, health history and goals.
You don't have to decide before you come in whether you "need the pool." We'll help determine whether it makes sense as part of your plan.
Conditions Aquatic Therapy May Support
Aquatic therapy may be incorporated into physical therapy for a variety of orthopedic and movement-related conditions.
At AAPT, that may include patients managing:
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Knee pain or recovering from knee procedures
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Hip pain or surgery
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Arthritis and chronic joint pain
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Weight-bearing limitations after injury or surgery
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Mobility limitations
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General weakness or deconditioning
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Sports injuries when a lower-impact environment is appropriate
Visit our Conditions We Treat page for more information.
What to Expect During Aquatic Therapy at AAPT
Your aquatic therapy isn't a generic pool workout. Like any physical therapy treatment at AAPT, it begins with understanding where you are, what's difficult for you and what you're working to get back to doing.
Your therapist determines which movements and exercises are appropriate based on your evaluation and stage of recovery.
A session may include:
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Walking on the underwater treadmill
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Mobility exercises
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Strengthening
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Balance and control work
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Exercises using the resistance of the water
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Guided movement based on your specific goals
Your therapist can adjust the treadmill, resistance and exercises as your needs change.
And no, you don't have to swim laps.
Aquatic Therapy + Land-Based Physical Therapy
Aquatic therapy and traditional physical therapy don't have to be an either/or decision. For many patients, they can complement one another.
Someone recovering from surgery, for example, may initially benefit from the support of the water when movement or weight-bearing on land is difficult. As strength, mobility and tolerance improve, the treatment plan may incorporate more land-based exercise and functional movement.
For another patient, aquatic therapy may remain one part of a broader plan while other treatment takes place on land.
The right combination depends on you.
How Aquatic Therapy Fits the AAPT Approach
Aquatic therapy is one of the tools we can use within AAPT's larger approach to physical therapy. Treatment is guided by The Reset Method:
1. Reset the Nerve
Address areas that may be interfering with movement or normal muscle function.
2. Reeducate the Muscle
Build strength, control and coordination based on what your body needs.
3. Reinforce with Movement
Carry those changes into everyday activity with movement and a home program designed around your goals.
For the right patient, the HydroWorx environment gives us another place to work through that process.
Aquatic Therapy vs. Land-Based Physical Therapy: What's the Difference?
Aquatic therapy and land-based physical therapy work toward the same goal through different environments, and most AAPT patients use both at different stages of recovery.
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Joint impact: Aquatic therapy is low to no impact, with buoyancy reducing load on the joints. Land-based physical therapy moves full body weight through the joints.
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Best used when: Aquatic therapy fits when weight-bearing is restricted or too painful. Land-based physical therapy fits when weight-bearing tolerance and pain allow more direct loading.
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Resistance source: Aquatic therapy uses water and resistance jets. Land-based physical therapy uses bands, weights, bodyweight, and equipment.
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Typical role in a plan: Aquatic therapy supports early recovery, flare-ups, or ongoing pain management. Land-based physical therapy builds strength, function, and movement patterns as recovery progresses.
Patient Testimonials
“After Point reset it took the pain away instantly...”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why Choose Athletic Advantage Physical Therapy
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We have HydroWorx right here in our Allen clinic: Aquatic therapy is integrated into our physical therapy practice rather than being a completely separate program at another facility.
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Your pool program is still your program: We don't give every aquatic patient the same exercises. Treatment is based on your evaluation, stage of recovery and goals.
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Pool and land-based treatment can work together: As your needs change, your physical therapy can change with you.
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Your goals guide the plan: For one person, that may mean walking more comfortably after surgery. For another, it may mean returning to exercise, work or an active lifestyle.
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We're one clinic and one team: AAPT is an independent physical therapy clinic in Allen. We get to know our patients and what they're working to get back to doing.
Aquatic Therapy in Allen, TX
Athletic Advantage Physical Therapy provides HydroWorx aquatic therapy at our Allen, TX clinic for patients who may benefit from a supported, lower-impact environment for rehabilitation and exercise.
We also serve patients from surrounding communities, including Plano, McKinney, Frisco, Fairview, Lucas, Parker, Wylie and Murphy. For a full view of our coverage, see our service area page.
Insurance & Payment Options
Athletic Advantage Physical Therapy is in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield and Medicare. We also offer self-pay options.
Coverage, copays, deductibles and referral requirements can vary by individual plan, so we recommend confirming your benefits before treatment.
Visit our Insurance & Fees page for additional information, or call our team with questions before your first appointment.
Contact Us
Phone: (214) 383 0623
Fax: (800) 213 4413
820 S Alma Drive, Suite 110
Allen, TX 75013
contact@aaphysicaltherapy.com
Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday:
8:00AM - 5:30PM
Tuesday, Thursday:
9:00AM - 5:30PM
Ready to See if Aquatic Therapy Is Right for You?
You don't have to decide on your own whether you need pool-based or land-based physical therapy.
We'll look at where you are in your recovery, how you're moving and what you're working to get back to, and determine whether aquatic therapy may be a good fit for your plan.
Call (214) 383-0623 or contact Athletic Advantage Physical Therapy to schedule an evaluation at our Allen, TX clinic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is aquatic therapy?
Aquatic therapy is physical therapy performed in water. Water's buoyancy reduces the amount of body weight placed through the joints compared with exercising on land, creating a supported, lower-impact environment for movement and exercise.
Do I need to know how to swim?
No. AAPT's aquatic therapy sessions may include standing, walking on the underwater treadmill and guided exercises in the pool. You don't need to swim laps to participate.
How does the water reduce stress on my joints?
Water's buoyancy helps support your body and reduces the amount of body weight placed through the joints compared with exercising on land. This can make walking and therapeutic exercise more manageable during certain stages of rehabilitation.
The amount of support varies by the individual, which is one reason your aquatic therapy program is based on your evaluation and needs.
What should I bring to aquatic therapy?
Our team can tell you exactly what you'll need before your first aquatic therapy appointment. Comfortable swimwear and a towel are generally appropriate.
Is aquatic therapy right for everyone?
No. Your physical therapist will consider your health history, current condition and treatment needs before determining whether aquatic therapy is appropriate for you.
Does aquatic therapy replace regular physical therapy?
Not necessarily. Aquatic and land-based physical therapy can work together. Some patients may initially benefit from more support in the pool and incorporate additional land-based exercise as their needs and abilities change.
Do I need a referral for aquatic therapy?
Not always. Texas allows qualifying physical therapists to evaluate and treat patients without a physician referral, subject to state requirements. Insurance requirements may vary, so contact our team if you're unsure what you need before your first visit.
Is aquatic therapy covered by insurance?
Coverage depends on your individual plan. AAPT is in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield and Medicare and also offers self-pay options. Contact our team or your insurance provider to confirm your specific benefits.
