For those with arthritis and similar diseases, AFAP is a warm water exercise technique. It was developed with the YMCA of the USA and the Arthritis Association. Oklahoma Physical Therapy experts guide you about the Aquatic Exercise program and its effects on the body.
AFAP aims to increase mobility, muscle development, and coordination while lowering stress, pain, and stiffness. However, instruct your patients to register for the programmer at a local site.
What is Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program?
The Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program is a relaxing group exercise program held in warm water. The minimum temperature of 83 degrees F has two levels, Basic and to accommodate changing levels of skill. The Basic level’s exercises increase flexibility, muscle strength, and muscle endurance; the Plus level provides additional variety and progressions.
Various efforts are included in programmers to help with pain management, stiffness reduction, maintaining or enhancing mobility, muscle strength, and functional capacity. Therefore, additional routines for enhancing endurance, relaxing techniques, and health-related subjects exist.
How is it conducted?
AFAP is held at public pools and aquatic facilities. Participants attend two or three 1-hour private weekly lessons for 8 to 12 weeks or once a week. In warm water (83–92°F), participants perform relaxing, breathing, and brief aerobic exercises to increase power, endurance, joint range of motion, and general well-being.
Instructors follow a set programmer curriculum that can be modified to match various fitness levels. Simple, easy stretching exercises to more difficult endurance-building exercises are all possible.
AFAP has been shown to increase joint flexibility, muscular strength, flexibility, and aerobic capacity in randomized controlled trials. Participants in the AFAP have also observed better physical health and enjoyment of life. The literature contains no reports of any safety issues.
For best results, it’s crucial to keep to the exercise schedule. It has been established through research that AFAP participants who attend. They do at least two weekly classes and report better gains in life quality, natural process, wellness, and mood.
What are the benefits?
In randomized controlled trials, AFAP has improved joint range of motion, muscle strength, flexibility, and aerobic fitness. AFAP participants have also reported improved physical function and quality of life. No safety concerns have been reported in the literature.
Adhering to the exercise regimen is important for maximizing benefits. Evidence has shown that AFAP participants who attend at least two classes per week report greater improvements in quality of life, physical function, well-being, and mood.
How does it Work?
Aquatic therapy refers to exercises performed in water for relaxation, fitness, physical rehabilitation, and other therapeutic benefit. Exercise performed in the water can relieve those suffering from various neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disorders. The specific properties of water make aquatic therapy much different from land therapy, as individuals can use water for resistance in place of gravity or weight.
Water’s unique properties allow individuals to benefit from less pressure on the joints, reducing inflammation and a safe environment to improve balance and strength. This therapy is also a great option for individuals who are unable to exercise on land. However, they can improve their strength and endurance to recover or improve from their condition.
Our expert therapist at Oklahoma Physical Therapy provides a good workout without the pain, stress, and muscle fatigue often associated with land-based exercises. Therefore, our full-sized pool, maintained at 94-96 degrees, is accessible to all with stairs or a chair lift.
What Happens During Aquatic Therapy?
The majority of treatment facilities will first assess patients to create a treatment plan that is ideal for them. Sessions will take place in the water if aquatic treatment is included in the plan. Almost all of the time, a professional therapist is with you. This isn’t even necessary for patients to know how to swim while starting a treatment.
Therefore, the therapist’s role is to support patients throughout each session. Bring your swimsuit, a towel, shoes appropriate for the pool area, and a plastic water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the process to ensure you are well-prepared. Additionally beneficial are an interesting perspective and an inquiring mind. Therefore, there’s a chance that this will be completely different from anything you’ve previously done.
How long does aquatic rehabilitation take?
Aquatic therapy sessions typically range between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the person’s specific needs and objectives. As part of their entire programming, patients work with a therapist to transition from aquatic to land-based workouts once they have accomplished their aquatic goals.
How Does The Program Help to Treat Health Issues?
You’re physical, mental, and social health can all benefit from regular exercise. They can also help you avoid or treat many chronic illnesses such as depression, diabetes, obesity, heart problems, and also some types of cancer. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services defines physical exercise as any exercise or physical motion that expends energy.
After evaluating the available data, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control listed a number of community-based physical activity programmers. Therefore, they have been proven to assist people in managing their chronic illnesses, such as arthritis, outside of a therapeutic context. However, the American Physical Therapy Association also supports the use of these programs in patient care.
A physical therapist might help if you have issues moving or participating in activities you like. Physical therapists are specialists in movement and enhancing patients. They are standard of living through hands-on treatment, patient education, and advised movement.
The Certified Instructor Duties:
- The instructor must have experience in fitness, exercise, or another area of health.
- The instructor needs to be certified in CPR.
- An AF-approved facility must host the programmer.
- The lesson is held in a community environment with supportive chairs as well as enough room for movement.
- Weights, strength exercises, balls, music, relaxing recordings, exercise mats, and other devices are used in each class. Therefore, the amount of equipment used by instructors is entirely up to them.
Final Verdict:
Through a series of specifically created exercises, the professional instructors of this enjoyable program can assist in increasing muscular strength and muscle function. Pain and stiffness can also be reduced by warm water and gentle motions. Including being free for Piedmont Health and Fitness Club members, these classes are also accessible to the public. A doctor’s consent document is required for new participants.
Even if you have osteoarthritis or an autoimmune, aggressive form of arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis, regular exercise is an important factor in your treatment plan. However, keep in connect with the expert therapist at Oklahoma Physical Therapy that offers certain pool exercises that are appropriate for you before starting anything water exercise program.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Does swimming help with arthritis?
For those with arthritis, water exercises can be both beneficial and enjoyable. Water can offer warmth and support (buoyancy), which can make it easier for joints affected by arthritis to be exercised. However, warm water exercises can be easily accessed in the home due to spas.
Can people with arthritis swim?
Swimming is a beneficial form of exercise for those with arthritis since it improves blood circulation. They help to learn to relax tight muscles and lessen discomfort, aid in maintaining and improving physical fitness and strength.
What is the purpose of aquatic therapy?
Exercises are done in the water for the purposes of relaxation, exercise, rehabilitation programs, and other health properties are referred to as aquatic therapy. People with a variety of neuromuscular or musculoskeletal diseases may find relief from exercise when done in the water.
How does swimming assist with osteoarthritis?
The buoyancy makes swimming more comfortable for the joints. According to Dr Mulcahy, who also works with Physical, an app-based platform for physiotherapy? It allows us to perform movements with an arthritic joint that would have been unpleasant on land, which helps develop strength and fitness in that joint.”