Warm Saltwater Pool Therapy
Our Warm Saltwater Pool Provides Soothing Support For Movements That Otherwise Might Be Too Difficult Or Painful.
Warm saltwater therapy is especially helpful for those who struggle with other types of physical therapy. The salt increases buoyancy, and that helps decompress aching joints, improving range of motion and function.
Learn more about pool therapy and Nura’s physical therapy approach through some Q&A with Michael Spiry, a Nura physical therapist.
What are the benefits of using warm saltwater pool therapy with chronic pain patients?
Michael: Nura is one of the only facilities offering warm saltwater pool therapy. Salt increases buoyancy, and buoyancy helps decompress joints which improves range of motion and function. Warm water, at 98 degrees, provides an environment that is calming, less stressful and helps tight tissue muscles relax to improve flexibility and decrease pain.
A variety of diagnoses benefit from using warm saltwater pool therapy – patients with fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and back pain – to name a few.
Warm saltwater pool therapy is especially beneficial for those with a low tolerance for land therapy. The buoyancy of water provides support that allows the patient to work on balance without fear of falling. Also, strength-building exercises are not overwhelming to the patient.
As a patient’s tolerance for physical therapy increases, we can alternate pool therapy with land therapy, with vastly improved results.
Nura also offers ‘Aftercare Pool Therapy’ options. After a patient completes their physical therapy program, they can continue the warm saltwater pool therapy on their own in Nura’s facilities for a minimal monthly charge.
In addition to the saltwater pool, what makes Physical Therapy at Nura different?
Michael: First of all, it’s the philosophy, our integrated approach to treating the whole patient.
It starts at the new-patient evaluation, which is done by a team member from each of our disciplines, Medical, Behavioral, and Physical Therapy.
Then, during the course of Physical Therapy, we continue to work closely with the interventional team to reduce pain and help the patient progress.
Nura is also unique in that every patient we see is a chronic pain patient. That’s all we do, and we are very good at it because we have so much exposure to it. Every one of our Physical Therapists has been trained in Pain Neuroscience Education. This advanced training, along with training from Dr. David Schultz about interventional procedures, enables us to understand patients with chronic pain and create effective treatment programs.
Who is your ideal patient?
Michael: Well, we wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but our ideal patient is someone who is dealing with chronic pain issues and is motivated to meet their goals. Maybe they’ve tried PT, but they haven’t worked with a Physical Therapist and a team that specializes in chronic pain.
I’ve worked with patients who are at the end of their rope, they’ve lost hope. The best feeling is when I see that spark of light come on in patients because they are experiencing improvements and realize that they now have hope — and that’s why I come to work every day.
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