Physical Therapy Specialists Clinic is one of only a few outpatient therapy clinics in Missouri and the only one in West Plains that offers a SwimEx aquatic therapy pool. The unique patented paddlewheel propulsion system can circulate up to 30,000 gallons of water per minute generating a water speed of up to 6.5 miles per hour. Unlike traditional swimming pools, the SwimEx pool simulates the current of a river and provides a controlled resistance environment for athletes desiring non-weight bearing performance improvement exercise and for therapy patients recovering from a wide variety of muscle, joint, neurological, circulatory, and cardiovascular conditions.

Benefits of Aquatic Therapy
Aquatic therapy has long been recognized by physicians, therapists, patients and athletes as one of the safest, most effective forms of rehabilitation available. Four natural properties of water make aquatic therapy an excellent choice for even the most delicate conditions.
Water’s buoyancy property provides a safe environment for protection against falls, relieves stress on joints by reducing the effects of gravity by 70 percent in chest deep water, and helps make movements through a wider range of motion easier.
Water’s natural hydrostatic property (the pressure water exerts on the skin) helps reduce swelling by pushing fluids into the bloodstream, which are then carried to the kidneys and eventually eliminated. Patients with pre-surgical and post surgical swelling as well as patients with arthritis and lymphedema can benefit from water’s hydrostatic property.
Water offers 12 times the resistance of air making it an excellent choice for muscle strengthening without stressing joints like traditional weigh lifting. Plus, move for move, aquatic exercise burns more calories than land based exercise.
The natural cooling property of water helps protect against overheating and makes the perceived effort of therapeutic movements and athletic conditioning seem less strenuous.

Benefits of SwimEx
The advantage of using a SwimEx pool over a traditional swimming pool in a therapeutic setting is the ability to provide controlled activities of increasing intensity measured objectively. Patients in initial stages of physical therapy or occupational therapy can start by performing non-weight bearing activities and then progress through the continuum of variable depths and increasing water resistance that SwimEx offers. The adjustable, no-slip floor of SwimEx allows the water depth to be set for individual patient needs thus providing a safer environment for adults and children. SwimEx utilizes a state-of-the-art cleaning and filtering system and is more hygienic than an ordinary swimming pool. The PTSC SwimEx features a hydraulic lift chair that moves patients in and out of the pool safely. Click below to view the hydraulic lift chair in action.

Who Can Benefit from SwimEx Aquatic Therapy?
Many high school, college and professional athletes use SwimEx aquatic therapy as a standard part of their overall aerobic and strength conditioning. Athletes recovering from joint or muscle injuries or who wish to spare further wear and tear can run or swim in place inside the SwimEx pool while tethered to a special harness. The paddlewheel propulsion system generates varying speeds of water current against which the athlete can move. Click here to see underwater footage.

In addition to SwimEx’s numerous uses in the field of athletic training, many sports related injuries benefit from aquatic therapy as well. They include:

• ACL injury
  
• Arch/Ankle pain
  
• Bursitis
  
• Dislocations
  
• Hamstring strain
  
• Joint pain
  
• Ligament sprains
  
• Lower back Injury
  
• Meniscus Injury
  
• Plantar Fasciitis
  
• Shin Splints
  
• Spinal fusion
  
• Stress fracture
  
• Tendonitis
  

Patients getting ready to undergo or who are recovering from total hip, knee, or shoulder replacement surgery can benefit from SwimEx therapy. Ask your doctor about a referral for aquatic therapy if you are planning a joint replacement.
Many other common conditions can be treated with SwimEx therapy including:

• Arthritis
  
• Cerebral Palsy
  
• Developmental Delay
  
• Fibromyalgia
  
• Head injuries
  
• Low back pain
  
• Lymphedema
  
• Multiple Sclerosis
  
• Muscular Dystrophy
  
• Obesity
  
• Paraplegia
  
• Spacicity
  
• Stroke

SwimEx aquatic therapy is covered by major insurance, workers’ comp., and Medicare.