Hydrotherapy For Knee Arthritis - What If I Can't Swim?

Many people can't swim, are uncomfortable around water, or have an outright fear of water. Does this mean that they cannot benefit from hydrotherapy?

Firstly let's consider why hydrotherapy is good for arthritic knees. The two main reasons are the effects of heat and the support of body weight. Stiffness is aggravated by cold and eased by heat. This is why winter can be a miserable time for arthritis sufferers. Osteoarthritis is also mainly a disease of the weight-bearing joints. Just as increased load tends to aggravate pain (through being overweight for example), a decreased load can lead to less pain.

Waist deep water is usually enough to exercise in. Most people can build water confidence by continually holding onto the edge and by beginning in shallow water. It is possible to do a complete knee workout in 4 feet of water. To get the full weight supporting effect of water you need to submerge up to the neck, but this can be done gradually and in shallow water - swimming is not required.

If you are nervous around water, please don't automatically discount hydrotherapy as you may be missing out on a valuable tool in the fight against osteoarthritis. Group exercise can even be a lot of fun.

Speak to your physical therapist and be honest about your concerns. They are used to helping people overcome their fears around water and most purpose build hydrotherapy pools are no more than chest deep.

Give it a try. This could be just what the doctor ordered