What is aquatic exercise?
Aquatic exercise is physical activity performed in water as part of an appropriate veterinary rehabilitation, fitness and conditioning program.
At Animal Therapy Center, aquatic activity may involve different equipment or environments depending on the purpose of the session and the individual dog.
Aquatic exercise is not one single treatment. It is a broad category of water-based activity that can be used in different ways.
How is movement different in water?
Water changes the environment in which a dog moves.
Buoyancy, resistance, water depth and the way the dog interacts with the water can all affect movement during an aquatic session.
Because of this, aquatic activity can look very different from the same type of movement performed on land.
Is aquatic exercise the same as an underwater treadmill?
No.
An underwater treadmill is one form of aquatic exercise in which the dog walks on a moving treadmill while partially surrounded by water.
Other aquatic activities may involve swimming or other water-based movement.
The appropriate type of aquatic activity depends on the purpose of the program and the individual dog.
How is aquatic exercise used in veterinary rehabilitation?
When aquatic exercise is part of veterinary rehabilitation, it is used within a veterinarian-directed rehabilitation plan.
The rehabilitation team considers the patient's evaluation, medical history, mobility, physical function, comfort and rehabilitation goals before determining whether aquatic activity is appropriate.
Not every rehabilitation patient needs or uses aquatic exercise.
Can aquatic exercise also be used for canine fitness?
Yes.
Water-based activity may also be included in appropriate non-medical fitness and conditioning programs.
The important distinction is the purpose of the session.
Veterinary rehabilitation is medical care directed by a veterinarian, while canine fitness and conditioning are non-medical activities for dogs appropriate for those programs.
What should owners expect?
The format of an aquatic session depends on the dog, the equipment being used, and the goals of the program.
ATC staff supervise the activity and adjust the session according to the established rehabilitation or fitness plan.
Owners should not assume that a particular aquatic activity is appropriate simply because their dog enjoys water or has used similar equipment before.
