Meet Kelsey Wiskow, a physical therapist offering aquatic therapy.

I am excited to tell you about a terrific new aquatic therapy program by Perham Health in partnership with the Perham Area Community Center (PACC) that combines physical therapy and water to produce healing results.

I am a physical therapist at Perham Health and an avid swimmer. Growing up on a local lake and competitively swimming since I was little, I know about the ability of water to heal and strengthen our bodies.

I learned about aquatic therapy while getting my doctoral degree in physical therapy at the University of North Dakota. Then, knowing that I wanted to be able to offer this therapy in Perham, I went and got training in aquatic therapy.

Here are some answers to questions about aquatic therapy.

What is aquatic therapy?

Aquatic therapy is a type of physical therapy that takes place in a heated therapy pool. Patients perform physical therapy treatments in water, benefitting from the water’s warmth, buoyancy, and resistance, which can help improve pain and stress on joints and muscles. It also allows patients to strengthen and stretch muscles and work on balance without the fear of falling. This is especially important for people with balance issues or osteoporosis.

Aquatic therapy will be held in the new therapy pool at the recently expanded PACC.

What types of conditions can benefit from aquatic therapy?

A wide variety of ailments and diagnoses can benefit from being in a pool.

• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Balance issues
• Chronic pain
• Low back pain
• Tight muscles
• Strokes
• Kids with developmental delays
• Sports injuries

How is a therapy pool different from a regular pool?

First, the water is warm, between 92⁰ and 94^0. The therapy pool is entirely new, separate from the main recreational pool at the PACC, with its own locker rooms and changing areas.

It is smaller and shallower with most of the pool being 3.5 to 4.5 feet deep. There is a small six-foot deep end. There are steps to get into the pool or a lift if someone cannot use the steps.

Most treatment sessions occur in the shallow end with the patient’s feet on the ground. The deep end is for treatments where we don’t want to touch the ground.

How does the warm water help?

The warm water relaxes the muscles allowing patients to move and stretch more easily.

What sorts of treatments can be done in water?

We might work on balance, range of motion for arms and legs, and strengthening different body parts such as legs, core, shoulders, arms, back, and neck.

Sessions will vary depending on the needs of each patient. For example, we may use equipment like resistance paddles, floatation devices, weights, and pool noodles.

The speed and intensity of workouts and what happens during each therapy session will vary as the patient progresses. Most activities can be modified to meet a patient’s needs.

How can I get aquatic therapy?

Talk to your health care provider and ask for an order for physical therapy requesting aquatic therapy. Next, make an appointment at the Nelson Therapy Center, where we will assess your issues, discuss your goals, and see if aquatic therapy makes sense for you.

If it does make sense, you and your therapist will determine the appropriate frequency and duration of your treatment to reach your goals.

Many insurances will cover aquatic therapy if there is a doctor’s order. However, checking with your insurance to see what is covered is always a good idea.

How does aquatic therapy help athletes?

Sometimes athletes can stand or exercise sooner with aquatic therapy than they could with land-based therapy. I will work with athletes recovering from surgery or injury on activities to help them return to their sport. We will work towards recovery and return to sport by using the properties of water, such as buoyancy, to decrease the stress on their surgical or injured site. Once they progress far enough, we will work towards adding land-based treatments.

Do you need to be able to swim?

No. There is no swimming or doing laps. However, if you are afraid of the water, there may be better types of therapy for you.

When will the new therapy pool open?

The new therapy pool will open sometime this summer or early fall.

Need clarification or have questions?

If you aren’t sure if aquatic therapy is right for you or if you have questions, call me at the Nelson Therapy Center at (218) 347-1590. I am happy to help you learn more and answer questions.

Perham Health Community Relations