There are so many benefits to therapy in the water. Aquatic therapy is great for kids who have both low and high muscle tone. It is a great way to work on strengthening muscles without straining the joints. It’s also calming for kids with sensory integration disorder and can be organizing for kids who seek input. You can start working with your baby in the water as young as six months old (or younger depending on the circumstance).
Activities/exercises to work on in the water with your child:
1. Have your child sit on a pool noodle straddling it like a horse. This is a great core control and balance exercise. You will gauge how much support you need to give by bringing the ends of the noodle closer to your baby to give more support and further away from their body for less support. Have them stabilize in this position for at least 5-10 seconds.
2. Prone (on belly) in the water is great for all ages. When you place a baby on his/her belly on the floor, they might just place their heads on the floor if it’s difficult to hold the head in extension. In the water, babies will keep their heads extended so their faces don’t submerge in the water. This forces them to strengthen their spinal extensors for improved core control in a fun way.
3. Tall kneel in the water, on your lap, or on the step-this position works core control and you can also work on crossing midline (reaching one hand across body) to retrieve rings off a noodle. You can also work trunk rotation and crossing midline in sitting on your lap and retrieving the rings. Tall kneel is a more challenging position so start in sit and then progress to tall kneel. (Can start tall kneel as young as 6 months old.)
The Therapy Gym has an excellent aquatic therapy program. We began to integrate aquatics into land-based therapy over three years ago and have seen kids thrive tremendously. We officially resumed our aquatic therapy program effective this week. The treating therapist will be wearing a mask/face shield in the water and, according to the CDC, the COVID-19 virus Can’t live in chlorinated water.. Each session is individual and we have taken the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of each child.
Please contact us at (201) 357-0417 to find out more about our therapy programs.
The Therapy Gym, owned by Dr. Elisheva Fuchs, is the leading pediatric therapy center in Bergen County. The Therapy Gym provides physical, occupational, speech, behavioral, and aquatic therapy as well as many classes for kids. Only the best, highly skilled and trained therapists work at the gym to help each child reach his or her potential. If you have questions or concerns about your child’s development, call The Therapy Gym at (201) 357-0417 or email [email protected]. You can also follow The Therapy Gym on Instagram and Facebook to learn more tips.
