Aquatic Research & Case Study Bulletin Greetings! Welcome to the HydroWorx bulletin. This is your monthly resource for the latest aquatic case studies and protocols. We will also be including tips on how other clinicians are growing their physical therapy practice through water therapy. We hope you find this information helpful. If there is a topic you'd like us to cover in an upcoming issue, please let us know! Sincerely, Your Friends at HydroWorx

Discomfort and Symptoms of MS Lessened Through

Water Exercise About 1 in 700 persons in the United States are diagnosed with MS, a disease characterized by muscle weakness, fatigue, uncoordinated walking/movement, muscle spasms and other physical and mental complications (especially in the later stages.)1 However, MS doesn't have to mean a complete loss of the ability to move and enjoy life; just ask Penny, a 49-year-old from Akron, Ohio, who has chosen water exercise and therapy to help her stay active. In fact, after being diagnosed over 26 years ago with the condition, she's still able to continue to take part in the pastimes she loves. You can learn more about Penny's inspirational story as well as see part of her water exercise workout in this video >> 1 What is Multiple Sclerosis?, http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/guide/what-is-multiple-sclerosis, 2011

Aquatic Therapy Proves Effective for Overweight

In This Issue

Discomfort and Symptoms of MS lessened Through Water Exercise

Aquatic Therapy Proves Effective for Overweight Clientele

Water Workouts and Pregnancy

The HydroWorx Blog

Water Workouts and

Pregnancy

One of the most common ailments that come with pregnancy is back pain. In fact, according to the North American Spine Society, half of all pregnant women will experience back pain. The cause is simply due to weight gain. In any other circumstance, back pain can be very effectively managed with diet and exercise. Unfortunately, weight gain is not reversible for the nine months of pregnancy. So, what is a woman to do? Exercise? In many circumstances, women are

Dr. Michael Velsmid

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Clientele Making physical therapy as comfortable as possible for patients can be challenging, especially if weight is an issue.1 And with more than two-thirds of American adults considered overweight or obese (BMI of 25 or more)2, physical therapists are likely to encounter this potential dilemma regularly. One method to circumvent limited movement exacerbated by obesity is with aquatic therapy in conjunction with or instead of land-based therapy. As a recent study supported by a National Swimming Pool Foundation grant illustrated, exercise in water allowed ease of motion in participants without compromising intensity.3 For physical therapy facilities, this type of research demonstrates the power of aquatic therapy to both assist clients' recoveries as well as potentially help them shed pounds in the process. To view the full abstract click here >> Please click here to learn more about our research findings. 1The Obesity Factor, Tamara L. Burlis, PT, DPT, CCS, Physical Therapy Products, http://www.ptproductsonline.com/issues/articles/2006-01_06.asp, 2006. 2Weight-control Information Network, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/index.htm, 2010. 3The Effect of Water Depth on Energy Expenditure and Perception of Effort in Female Subjects While Walking, Alkurdi, et al, International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 2010, 4, 49-60, 2010.

Which HydroWorx Charity Will You Vote For This Month? It's January and were ready to hold another HydroWorx Year of Giving charity donation poll! If you're not familiar with the HydroWorx Year of Giving program, it's simple - our company will give $100 each month to a deserving charity. Every month, we ask three of our employees to suggest the charities they support. Then, YOU help us decide which one gets a check!

able to exercise safely and effectively throughout their pregnancy. In fact, this is encouraged for those women who were at a high level of fitness before their pregnancy. What about the rest of the crowd? Well, there is no clear consensus. The body goes through amazing adaptations during pregnancy. Unfortunately, some of these adaptations elevate the risk of injury during exercise. For example, the hormonal changes cause ligament laxity. The ligaments are already under higher stress from the increased weight of the baby. Add to that the stress of exercise and you have all the ingredients of sacroiliac, knee, and ankle sprains. So, what if you find yourself pregnant with back pain and you are not coming off the triathlon circuit?.... Click here to finish this article! The article above is by HydroWorx friend and guest blogger Dr. Michael Velsmid.

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January's poll closes on the 28th at 11:59 p.m. EST, so don't delay! Step 1: Go to the HydroWorx blog and read about three of our employees' favorite charities. Step 2: Vote for the employee's charity that most resonates with you. Step 3: Head to our Facebook page and "like" us, leaving a message on our wall about which employee's charity you voted for and why! Next month, we'll profile three new charities and give away another $100. So visit our blog often and help support the organizations that help make our communities better places to live, play and work!

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