Lupus has many signs and symptoms that depend on the severity and the type of lupus a patient has. The most common symptoms are inflammation, pain, and fatigue. Aquatic Therapy helps decrease  the intensity of these symptoms.    

     Aquatic therapy has the benefits of having hydrostatic pressure. Inflammation is caused by chemicals from the body's white blood cells, which are released into the blood or affected tissues to protect your body from foreign substances. This release of chemicals increases the blood flow to the area of injury or infection, and may result in redness and warmth. When hydrostatic pressure from water is introduced into this system, the high hydrostatic pressure at the arteriolar end of capillaries forces fluid out into the extravascular space, but this fluid returns into the capillaries and lymphatics at their venous end, where hydrostatic pressure is low. Thus, causing the inflammation and swelling to decrease. 

     Aquatic Therapy also helps with the decreasing pain. Pain is usually caused by inactive nerves or swelling in the joints. The swelling as stated in the paragraph above is decreased by the hydrostatic pressure. (The hydrostatic pressure also has a massaging effect on the body, which decreases pain and swelling).The heated pools relieve muscle tension, which could be source of pain due to inactive nerves.  The inactive nerves can lead to stiffness and when you try to move your muscles it hurts. Inactive nerves can be treated with low impact therapies such as aquatic therapy. The repetitive motions help the nerve signals to get to the right places. This increases the circulation and stimulation of certain muscles. The low impact environment allows certain motions to be easier, thus stimulating those muscles, which leads to improved connection between neurons. You might experience a greater flexibility, a greater range of motion, and the upward force from the water causes a 90% decrease in impact, which will decreases the pressure on your joints. This increased flexibility, range of motion, and decreased impact keeps your muscles healthy by being able to work them in ways you could not on lalnd, and the pathways of your nerves have an increased connection, which will prevent inactive nerves. Sensitivity to touch is also a pain complaint of Lupus patients. Aquatic Therapy increases the surface area at which the water putting pressure on your skin and stimulating those nerves. Overtime, this stimulation will reduce the sensitivity to touch. 

     Aquatic Therapy helps with fatigue by improving endurance. The water provides excellent resistance  The higher viscosity of water makes muscles work harder when compared to the same exercises on land. Viscosity can be described as the way the water molecules stick together when you try to move through them. It is harder to move through the water than it is to move on land because the water molecules are sticking to each other and to you. Conversely, it would be harder to move through a pool that is filled with peanut butter than a pool that is filled with water! This viscosity means that more muscle fibers are recruited for each movement through water. The heart must also work harder providing blood to the muscles, which results in cardiovascular fitness, as well as overall toning. This increased use of energy means you will be tired after your workout. However, after experiencing this type of training for longer periods of time, your endurance levels on land and water will increase so that you will not be feeling as fatigued.