Walk in the Water: Aquatic Therapy Helps Heal People with Disabilities

[Guest guest]

Walk in the Water: Aquatic Therapy Helps Heal People with Disabilities

by Cherl Petso

http://www.disaboom.com/adaptive-fitness/walk-in-the-water-aquatic-therapy-helps\

-heal-people-with-disabilities

Don Mehringer sits slumped in his wheelchair in the lobby at the Bellevue, WA,

Aquatic Center, his wispy white hair scattered haphazardly over his freckled

scalp. A blast of humid, chlorinated air surges into the room whenever the door

to the pool is opened. It is difficult to determine which is more inanimate:

Don or his wheelchair.

One year ago Don fell and fractured a vertebra. The vertebra became infected

and has severely affected his ability to walk. Prior to the fall, Don, 75, was

showing signs of dementia, which was further exacerbated following his accident.

His wife and caregiver, Diane, started bringing Don to the aquatic center to

take advantage of the co-ed and disability-tailored bathrooms to get Don a

shower. On one occasion she noticed a flyer for aquatic therapy with Harriet

Ott.

Aquatic Therapist Harriet Ott

Harriet is the founder of Community Integration Services (CIS), and is primarily

an aquatic therapist for people with disabilities to improve their lives by

increasing things like mobility and strength. A recreational therapist in the

Seattle area for thirty years, she has vast resources for disabled people who

want to continue leisure activities following a debilitating accident and who

are not sure whether it is possible. She had a consultation with Don and Diane

to design a program for Don that would cater to his disability while still

providing a challenging workout.

Caregiver Respite

Since beginning aquatic therapy six months ago, Don is able to walk and jog

across the pool. " He enjoys it, " Diane says. " What little enjoyment he has in

life. He looks forward to it. " Diane, who used to work as a nurse, is now

again in the role of nurse and caregiver for her husband. " When I said for

better or for worse, I had no idea! " She laughs. Diane benefits from Don's

aquatic therapy as well. She uses the hour-long session to train for an

upcoming half-marathon.

When Don is wheeled to the pool, his face lights up like a child who has just

had the training wheels taken off his bicycle and realizes that he is not going

to fall. He is wheeled down the ramp and into the water. Once the chair is

submerged, Don easily floats out of his chair. His skinny arms push the water

as he propels himself forward. The expression on his face is the epitome of

joy.

Any Activity, Any Disability

Harriet Ott began CIS with the intention of helping people with disabilities

enjoy the leisure activities that feed their lives. Upon first meeting Harriet,

it is apparent that she is focused and dedicated to what she does. Her brown

eyes beam with passion and pride as she articulates the purpose of recreational

therapy.

" What feeds us is that we make contributions in society, that we can interact

with other people, that we can grow and learn new things. When you become

disabled, all of a sudden you have to look at that in a whole different way.

When you only have one hand or no legs, you feel like you can't do any of those,

you can't see beyond it. And the recreational therapist is saying, `I have

adaptive tools and techniques that will allow you to access any community

activity you want to do,' " Harriet says.

Without intending to do so, Harriet has ended up spending much of her time

primarily as an aquatic therapist. The more she learns about aquatic therapy,

the more passionate she becomes about water. For the past nine years, she has

submerged herself in aquatic therapy, employing new methods like watsu, a water

massage technique.

Developmental Disabilities Benefit Too

Annie Park's dark blonde hair sticks out of her blue swimming cap and plasters

itself to her face, neck, and ears. Her matching blue goggles are slightly

fogged. Earplugs do side bends out of her head. She is in the cold-water pool

swimming laps. Her motions are a little clumsy, a little unrefined, but the

overall principle of getting from one end of the pool to the other is

accomplished. Directions are called out to her. Though it seems impossible

that Annie should hear anything through the layers of hair, cap, and earplug,

she changes position or swimming stroke on cue.

Annie, 39, has spent a lifetime walking on her toes, which has led to back and

hip problems. Additionally, Annie has Down syndrome. Three years ago, her

doctor recommended aquatic therapy to help correct Annie's unusual gait.

Annie's success is marked by physical progress as well as psychosocial

improvements. Her posture and gait are noticeably better. Her mobility has

increased and her pain lessened. Aquatic therapy has made Annie more confident

and independent. " It's one of the joys of her life, " says Annie's mother, Sue.

" This really means a lot to her. "

Aquatic Therapy

Aquatic therapy is a relatively new phenomenon. People with any and every kind

of disability come to Harriet. Aquatic therapy increases circulation, improves

heart rate, increases range of motion, decreases blood pressure, and increases

digestive movement. The properties of the water, such as its buoyancy, allows

for more dynamic exercises in a safe environment. Aquatic therapy allows the

therapist to move and manipulate the patient with greater ease and diversity.

It also allows for people to achieve a variety of training goals, such as

cardiovascular, weight training, stretching, and massaging.

Physical Therapy as Mental Therapy

Harriet is a believer in physical exercise as mental therapy. Not only is she a

recreational therapist, she serves as a mental therapist as well. Thus, she

refers to herself as a social worker. Harriet believes it is crucial to

re-engage into society and the community following a disabling accident. " Every

human being has an inner heart thing that makes them want to connect with people

and learn something new… if you don't have that and isolate yourself in your

home. . . then you're going to fall into a huge depression—and that's not a good

place. " Harriet looks at herself as a resource for people. She believes that

any activity can be done. It's a matter of changing the perspective and finding

the right tools.

To watch Harriet work is like watching someone pray. One feels lucky to witness

such compassion and strength.

Watsu

, 66, is having his first official session with Harriet. She is excited to

work with him. It is understandable; is a pleasure to be around. He is

kind and genuine. He doesn't pretend that he's contented with his lot in life.

He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when he was twenty-eight. Since MS is

a gradual disease, he watched as his body slowly stopped listening to him. He

talks about how he used to jog and swim. With a small smile, he gives a little

sigh, " I don't understand why [this happened]. "

Harriet wheels into the pool and scoops him easily off the chair into the

water. She spends the first part of the hour-long session moving his body

through the water. Her motions resemble a paintbrush free-flowing over a

canvas. Though Harriet cradles the older man, there is nothing patronizing

about the session. Harriet is incredibly focused and strong. " She's

confident, " says, " And she never emits fear. Some people emit fear when

talking to disabled people, but she never does. " Harriet's confidence and focus

are hard for her clients to deny. Without being unkind, she doesn't give her

clients the option to give up.

As she moves his body, she stretches and massages and folds and turns the body.

The session is mostly silent. There's a moment where his body is in front of

hers and they are cheek-to-cheek, swaying tenderly as though they are slow

dancing, eyes slightly downcast with thoughts of dedication.