People with Parkinson’s disease who exercise regularly move and maintain balance better than those who do not. Water boasts unique properties that enable it to be used for both therapy and fitness, especially for persons who cannot comfortably move on land, as is often the case for people with Parkinson’s.

     Aquatic therapy has been proven to offer incredible strength, lean muscle, and balance and flexibility gains in all populations, including those with paralysis or limited movements. As a method of helping Parkinson’s disease sufferers remain as independent as possible, aquatic therapy performed in a therapeutic pool with integrated underwater treadmills has helped individuals with improving movement.The assistance of buoyancy allows for bigger movements. Clients can practice walking with a more normal or exaggerated gait and carry out progressively larger ranges of motion. At the same time, forces of resistance and turbulence challenge balance and coordination. In addition, the soothing, warm temperature relaxes muscles and helps lessen rigidity and pain. When someone with Parkinson’s is able to float and move in a pool, they feel so much freer than on land. Participants can stand up tall with increased truck extension and move more freely. In the water, low-impact exercise is possible and is easier to achieve. On land, each step may cause stress on joints, muscles, and tissues. However the buoyancy effect naturally creates less stress on the muscles and the body. Patients who cannot easily move on land sometimes find their mobility much easier in the water. At the same time, the water provides some resistance to improve the effectiveness of exercises.

     Parkinson’s patients most notably suffer from tremors, and water can assist with this as well. A warmer pool can soothe muscles, while the natural resistance of the water relaxes movements. Tremors are lessened and patients have more time to respond and focus on movement.

     In water, the fear of falling evaporates. The biggest danger to people with gait and balance issues is gravity, which is simply not an issue in the pool. The buoyancy effect can make fear of falling much less. Even if a patient does stumble, the risk of injury is minimal. Since Parkinson’s patients may worry about falling and about movement, this can prevent them from exercising. The reluctance can mean muscles weaken further without exercise, leading to even smaller ranges of movement.

     Main Benefits of warm water therapy and exercise include:

• The warmth of the water acts as a therapeutic medium to reduce rigidity, stiffness and pain. 

• ​The buoyancy aids people who lack postural support or balance and allows them to perform range-of-motion and strengthening exercises that they may not be able to complete on land. 

• Movements require less effort in the water, which helps conserve energy. 

• The turbulence of the water acts to challenge balance and coordination to improve walking and overall stability for daily tasks.

• Reduce swelling

• Reduce pain

• Help the heart and boost circulation

• Reduce sensory input to the brain

• Reduce the pooling of blood in the extremities