Encourages limb use in patients post-surgery or injury.The water can also provide tactile stimulation, which stimulates the nerve endings and encourages neurological function. Gait re-education in neurological patients.Increased joint flexion and extension whilst walking on the underwater treadmill, improving overall joint range of motion and increasing associated soft tissue strength and flexibility.Increased circulation, reduction of swelling and promotion of healing due to the hydrostatic pressure created by the water.Some patients who may not be ready to walk on the underwater treadmill yet can still benefit from gentle massage whilst stood in the warm water of the treadmill. This can help to relieve joint/muscle pain and tension. Promotion of relaxation and increased blood circulation due to the warm temperature of the water.This can benefit patients when both standing and walking, and can enable weaker and/or neurological patients to support themselves more easily than they would on dry land. Increased buoyancy in the water, which reduces the impact on the joints and soft tissues.The resistance created by the water can also benefit neurological patients by providing a greater reaction time to allow for correct placement of the limbs. The faster the treadmill belt speed, the more resistance created by the water and the more difficult the exercise. This helps to increase strength, endurance and cardiovascular fitness. Increased resistance when walking under water compared to on dry land due to the viscosity of the water.The main benefits of the underwater treadmill are: Speed can be increased to suit the treatment protocol, but fast speeds are rarely used, except in the case of fit working/sporting animals. Very slow speeds are usually used to introduce animals to the treadmill for the first time, and for neurological patients where gait re-education forms an essential part of rehabilitation. The speed of the treadmill is readily adjustable, allowing for hydrotherapy sessions to be further adapted to each individual animal’s condition. Every month, a water sample is also sent off for microbiological testing. The water is maintained at an optimum temperature of between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius and the chlorine and other water balance levels are tested and maintained throughout each day to keep the water sanitised and free from any harmful bacteria. The underwater treadmill allows for an adjustable water level to be utilised to best support each patient’s individual size and condition. Here at The Essex Animal Physiotherapy Centre, we have the option of using an underwater treadmill as part of our patients’ treatment plans. It can also be useful as a tool for improving fitness and conditioning. Hydrotherapy is an extremely useful tool that can be used to aid an animal’s recovery post-surgery/injury and/or provide additional benefits to animals with long term injuries or conditions. Hydrotherapy is provided as an additional treatment modality to physiotherapy on our state-of-the-art WaterWalker V3 underwater treadmill.
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