When Meghan Simons broke her fibula, the shinbone in the leg, while playing volleyball for Ohio University, she went to the pool to begin her recovery.
Using an underwater treadmill, Simons, an OU senior studying communication, was able to run without as much impact as running on land, she said.
Water allows someone to work in a functioning environment with less gravity, said John Bowman, director of athletic training at OU.
With the buoyancy effect
the ankle's not working as hard he said, who gave the example of an ankle as one of the most common injuries that can benefit from water therapy.
Aquatic therapy is helpful for treating injuries because it puts less impact on the muscles and the warm water from the pool allows the muscle tissue in the body to stretch around the injured area, said David Black, a chiropractor at Beavercreek Chiropractic and Injury Treatment Center in Beavercreek.
For students who would like to work out their own minor injuries or to have a cardiovascular workout without as much stress on muscles and joints, the OU Aquatic Center offers water aerobics courses four days each week.
The deep-water workout offered by the Aquatic Center is a total muscle workout, and participants are supported by either floats or treading water, said Joe Wakeley, aquatics director at OU.
In contrast, in the shallow water workout, the body is supported by water, and the impact is severely decreased.
It's more running and resistance training said Wakeley, adding that student-athletes often use some form of training in the pool.
Bowman said that aqua aerobics would be good for anyone who is looking for a low-impact workout.
It's great for everything
he said.
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Culture
Jessica Lohner
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Members of the aqua aerobics class practice at the Aquatic Center. Aquatic aerobics like these are the preferred rehabilitation method for athletes with certain injuries. The Aquatic Center offers aqua aerobics classes four days each week. (Maddie McGarvey | For The Post)
