Special Needs
There are different treatments that can be used to help children with special needs. When a child is diagnosed with a condition, medical experts come up with a therapy program that can be used in the treatment process. This is an enjoyable therapy that involves the use of water, and it plays an important role in enhancing the child’s quality of life and improving productivity. Therapists use specifically designed water activities to help in restoration, improvement, and enhancing quality functions of children.
Aquatic Therapy has been very successful in helping people with different special needs. Aquatic Therapy is a huge contributor to helping motor delays and disabilities that children may have. Research has shown that children with autism and other conditions have shown improved swimming skills and increased motor skills. The benefits of regular physical activity for children include: increased muscle strength and bone density, improved cardiorespiratory endurance and self-esteem, and decreased stress and anxiety.
Aquatic therapy has been used for musculoskeletal and neuromuscular rehabilitation for over 100 years. It has been shown to improve motor performance in children with muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, and Rett syndrome. Hydrotherapy is based on the principles of hydrodynamics (buoyancy, relative density, viscosity, resistance, hydrostatic pressure, turbulence, and flow) and is thought to provide multiple sensory stimuli through water temperature, weight relief, and vestibular input. The properties of water assist active movement, provide postural support, and promote relaxation of spastic muscles, improved circulation, and strengthening, allowing a variety of fundamental motor skills to be performed, relative to an individual’s skill level.
Aquatic Therapy and Special Needs
Physical Benefits of Aquatic Therapy
According to research, water is the ideal medium for body rehabilitation or exercise. The water provides an ideal environment, which helps to reduce body weight by up to 90%. The warm water decreases stress or affect the body while also reducing spasticity and relaxing muscles. By engaging in specific well-directed water activities, the child is able to gauge his or her own body boundaries much better. The child is able to regulate the force that the body exerts when performing tasks or playing and this helps to improve posture, balance, and coordination.
Dealing with sensory issues
Children who have special needs often have significant sensory difficulties that are usually very distractible. Children often have strong reactions to different textures and can over or under react to different stimuli in the environment. The therapist starts by evaluating the water temperature as well as noise and other distractions in the water. When all the factors are taken into consideration, the water helps to provide a safe environment that supports the child while also providing him or her with necessary hydrostatic pressure. Many children are able to tolerate touch better after aquatic therapy.
Improving the child’s social skills
Group therapy sessions can help children with autism to improve their social skills. The training includes sessions that target specific skills. During these group sessions, the children work with the therapist and other children. They learn how to engage with their group mates, while also sharing toys and equipment. By experiencing cooperative and competitive play, the children develop a mental attitude and increased self-confidence. Clinicians report a substantial improvement in initiating and maintaining eye contact during and after the therapy sessions.
Help with cognitive improvements
Aquatic therapy can help children with Autism to improve their concentration and attention span. The therapy focuses on play-based functional movement, facilitating neurodevelopmental growth and improving range of motion. The therapy improves body awareness, while also helping the children to have fun. The one-on-one session can help children with autism when it comes to impulse control, ability to follow instructions and frustration tolerance.