With temperatures reaching 110 degrees consistently, it can be difficult for patients living with chronic pain to get outdoors and exercise. Our Arizona pain doctors probably sound a bit like a broken record as they ask patient’s to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle and visit their physical therapists, but if we said it once we’ve said it a million times; exercise is a key element to pain management and recovery.

Water Therapy

Water therapy, also known as pool therapy and aquatic therapy, is a wonderful pain management tool for a hot Arizona summer. When the heat is on, and going for a long walk with the dog is out of the question for both you and him, consider a dip in the pool. It’s imperative that you continue to maintain and active lifestyle even in the heat of the summer, and jumping in the pool to increase your heart rate just might do the trick.

Exercise releases endorphins, which can decrease pain, increases blood flow to painful areas, and facilitates pain management treatments. Some of the wonderful benefits of water therapy over traditional exercise include:

• Buoyancy Factors – In the pool, your body is not weighed down by the natural forces of gravity, thus relieving some of the pressure and stress on affected and painful areas. The buoyancy acts as a counter weight to help support your weight and alleviate strain on joints and muscles.
• Range of Motion – In the water, as your body relaxes and allows buoyancy to assist in movements, you will find that you have a greater range of motion. When gravity is not straining your joints and muscles and limiting movements such as leg lifts, these exercises will come easier and be more effective.
• Viscosity – Though water adds buoyancy and reduces the gravitational pull on your body, it can add friction to workouts. As you lift your legs, the water provides a small amount of friction and resistance which can act as a conditioning and muscle-building element.
• Water Temperature – While it might not be the most refreshing dip in the pool you’ll ever take, warm water can help to loosen muscles and relax tension, allowing for even greater range of motion and muscle-building.

Water Therapy for Fibromyalgia and RSD

For patients who are living with fibromyalgia and RSD, or CRPS, water therapy can be your greatest asset. In Arizona, we’re lucky enough to have pool weather nearly all year round, which is wonderful for those in need of this type of therapy.

According to WebMD, studies from Spain indicate that water aerobics improves quality of life for women with fibromyalgia pain in the long-term. In one 12-week study, women who exercised in warm water -- for 60 minutes, 3 times a week -- reported improved physical and mental well-being. They also had less fibromyalgia pain and more vitality. As for their state of mind, they reported feeling less depressed, and more sociable.

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