Aquatic Therapy – Coming Soon

Aquatic therapy is the performance of physical, occupational, speech, or recreational therapy in a warm water environment. The therapeutic temperature of the water allows tight muscles to stretch, nervous kiddos to relax, strength and balance training with more support, sensory feedback, and moderated weight bearing. It’s also a fun and social experience!

As the leading therapy center for children and adolescents with special needs in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Connections Therapy Center offers a full range of therapy disciplines and unique programs.

About Aquatic Therapy

Aquatic therapy is a type of physical therapy that has shown results treating a range of patients. Aquatic therapy can potentially be effective for:

• Cerebral Palsy – quadriplegia, di- and hemi- plegias
• Down syndrome
• Neurological diagnoses including Traumatic Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy
• Developmental delay
• Microdeletion syndromes, agenesis of the Corpus Callosum, and other diagnoses that limit a child’s strength, balance or independent function.

The use of warm water helps increase motion and function, while improving flexibility. The buoyancy of water reduces the force and allows patients to perform movements and functions easier. A child does not need to know how to swim in order to take part in aquatic therapy.

Benefits of Aquatic Therapy for Children and Adolescents with Special Needs

Aquatic therapy has been used with great effect to help children and adolescents with special needs enhance movement and function. The recreational and social aspects of the treatment make it a more enjoyable experience for the child. Aquatic therapy has demonstrated particularly strong results for children and adolescents with autism.

Physical Benefits

Aquatic therapy helps a child regulate how much force their body exerts as they move and perform certain functions. The child becomes better at gauging physical body boundaries, and may see improvements in balance, coordination and posture.

Sensory Benefits

Particularly for children and adolescents with autism, sensory stimuli like texture, noise and distractions can create a strong reaction. The sensory stimulus of the water in aquatic therapy creates a feeling of a safe environment and may improve the tolerance of touch for children and adolescents with autism.

Social Benefits

Aquatic therapy can have social benefits when performed as group therapy, or through the interaction with the therapist or caregiver in performing tasks. Some therapists have reported improvement in eye contact. The recreational nature of the therapy helps children and adolescents experience cooperative play and increases self-confidence.

Connections Therapy Center offers aquatic therapy to children and adolescents with special needs in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including Prince George’s County, and Anne Arundel County, Maryland, and northern Virginia.