Looking for more workouts to use on travel physical therapy jobs? Aquatic therapy has proven effective for a variety of rehabilitation cases. Since the water's buoyancy supports the body's weight, performing exercises in the water is easy on the joints. In fact, it provides 12 times the resistance of air, so as patients move, they are constantly building muscle. Try incorporating some water exercises in their customized rehab plan. You can instruct them to do the following:
1. Water walking
In chest-high water, walk about 10 to 20 steps forward and then walk backward. When going forward, be sure to place your whole foot on the bottom of the pool instead of just your tiptoes, with your heel coming down first, then the ball of your foot. Avoid straining the back by engaging your core (stomach and back) muscles while you walk.
For a tougher workout, lift your knees higher during each stride. This will help boost the exercise, drawing more heavily on the hamstrings, quads and abdominal muscles.
2. Jogging
When patients feel comfortable, they can attempt water jogging at intervals. Alternate jogging for 30 seconds with stationary walking for 30 seconds. Depending on the phase of patients' recovery, travel PT professionals can advise to practice for up to five minutes.
3. Sidestepping
Facing the pool wall, take 10 to 20 steps in one direction and then return. Your patient's body and toes should stay facing the wall throughout this whole exercise. Repeat twice in each direction.
4. One leg balance
Stand on one leg as you lift the other knee to hip level. Travel physical therapy professionals should tell patients to place a noodle beneath the raised leg so the noodle forms a "U" with the foot in the center of the U. Hold up to 30 seconds – but make sure your patient doesn't strain themselves.
5. Waist-deep lunges
Exercise the thighs without straining the knees. In waist-deep water, lunge with the right foot forward, right thigh parallel to the pool floor. While keeping your hands on your hips, make sure the left knee is bent. Jump back up, scissor legs and land with the left leg forward. Repeat 15 to 20 times.
6. Step pushups
While patients might not be able to do pushups on normal ground, water pushups are a lot easier. For this exercise, you'll need to be near pool steps or edge of the pool. Start in the plank position in the shallow end, hands on the top pool step and toes on the pool floor. Gently bend elbows to lower the body so elbows reach 90-degree angles. Patients should be able to do this without getting their faces wet. Then straighten elbows and repeat. Build up to two or three slow sets of 15 reps.
7. Deep-water bicycle
To do this, loop one or two noodles around the back of your body and rest your arms on top of the noodle for support. Move your legs as if you're pedaling a bicycle. Continue for three to five minutes.