Water Therapy vs. Physical Therapy: Which Is Better for Me?

Water therapy is a therapeutic technique that focuses on exercises using water for resistance. Because of the buoyancy from the water, the weight is reduced on the joints that would typically feel strained on land. This offers less impact on areas of high stress or pain, making water therapy a low or no-impact alternative to traditional land therapies. It is commonly prescribed to patients with arthritis, back pain, or fibromyalgia.

Limitations of water therapy

Is water therapy good for everyone?

The short answer is no. Though water therapy can be helpful, there are limitations that can make it a challenge and also, not as effective as traditional physical therapy. These challenges may include:

• Time commitment – It will take longer to see practical gains and strength improvement from water therapy treatments because your improvements in water may not translate similarly on land. So, without combining land activities, it may take even longer to recover fully.

• Travel challenges – Access to water therapies is not as easy as bringing portable equipment to you. You would need to visit a facility that has pool access -- which makes it a challenge for patients having difficulty getting to and from sessions.

• COVID-19 limiting access – Of course one of the biggest barriers right now is access to these facilities during the pandemic. Many are limiting patients for safety, which can make getting an appointment even more difficult.

Alternatively, Luna offers an option that gives you the ease of access to your personal physical therapist in the safety of your own home -- your PT will come to you and bring everything you need for your treatments.

What to expect from on-demand physical therapy

With Luna’s on-demand PT, one of our certified physical therapists will visit you in your home when it’s most convenient for you. They will be able to work with you one-on-one, giving you all of their attention to focus on a faster recovery, and getting you back to the activities that matter most to you.

While we are still navigating the COVID-19 crisis, we have come up with a way to partner with physical therapy clinics so they can offer their patients treatment without the need to set up a clinic visit. “Powered by Luna” offers the most convenient and safe way for your therapist to deliver in-person care in your own home. Luna makes it simple and easy for you and your therapist to track your progress through the Luna App, and encourage you to complete your treatments so you can see real results.

If you or your loved one are ready to begin healing, contact us today. Our physical therapists are ready to meet you and can’t wait to help you with your road to recovery.

Handpicked resources for you

Land Therapy (Benefits) - The Houston Spine and Rehabilitation Center

Best Exercises for Fibromyalgia - Medical News Today

The Benefits of Combining Water and Land-Based Therapy - Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation

Low-Impact Aerobic Exercise - Spine Health