• 4 •
The Pinecone
|
February 2014
Benef i ts
of
Water Exercise
Most everyone, regardless of age
or physical condition, can benefit
from aquatic exercise. Even if you
don’t know how to swim! Just being
in the water has inherent benefits.
From improvements in circulation
to relieving joint pain, the rewards of
aquatic exercise are numerous. Aquatic
activities can include strengthening,
flexibility, aqua aerobics, Ai Chi, (an
aquatic version of Tai Chi) and walking
or jogging. In addition, aquatic fitness
activities provide diversity and fun to
your workout.
Many physicians and therapists
recommend aquatic therapy because
it can advance individuals to a higher
level of muscle fitness and mobility
sooner offering advantages over land-
based exercise and therapy:
Buoyancy
provided by the water
allows you to move more easily with
decreased stress on muscles, joints,
and bones while increasing flexibility
and balance. In chest-deep water, you
take 70% of your body weight off your
joints. The “support” your body receives
makes exercising easier and less painful,
allowing you to exercise longer without
increased effort or joint or muscle pain.
Exercises performed in the water
allow the heart to work more efficiently,
making it a great cardiovascular
workout.
The pressure of the water on your
joints and muscles comforts your body
while you exercise, leaving you feeling
less fatigued.
Support provided by the water
reduces the fear of falling.
Resistance
of the water allows
for higher workout intensities with less
impact on your body.
Warm Water
therapy has even
greater benefits. Our pool in the Oasis
is usually at 90o and the spa is at 100o.
Besides the comfort of the temperature,
immersing in warm water raises your
body temperature and relaxes your
muscles benefitting individuals with
disabilities and conditions such as
arthritis, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s
disease, and many others.
Participating in a warmwater exercise
class provides many physical benefits:
•
Improved endurance, flexibility, and
range of motion
•
Improved pulmonary function
•
Increased circulation
•
Muscle relaxation and pain relief
•
Strengthened muscles
•
Decreased joint and soft tissue
inflammation
•
Improved bone density
Additionally, warm water exercise
can have other benefits including
reduced anxiety and stress, improved
mood, and fun with friends.
Excerpts from Sean Cook, DPT, Director
of Therapy at Shalom Cares. Benefits of
Aquatic Exercise and Therapy05/11/12
from SeniorsBluebook.com
We offer two types of Water
Aerobic classes. On Mondays and
Wednesdays at 8:30 is a higher impact
/
intensity class and on Tuesdays and
Thursdays at 9:30 is the Arthritis
Foundation Water Aerobics Class
which emphasizes range of motion
for every joint. Both classes help
with balance and strengthening and
stretching and are open to both men
and women. The pool is open all day
for water walking/jogging or your own
routines. Never use the pool alone.
Have someone nearby just in case you
need help.
The Oasis has two nice changing
rooms with showers and lockers.
Towels are provided. I often say, ”The
hardest thing about water aerobics is
putting on your swimsuit.” So what’s
your excuse?
Come Join Us!
