To provide comprehensive rehabilitation, patients frequently require the ability to move in a gravity-neutral or buoyant environment. This unweighting of the back or lower extremity allows the patient to move more freely with reduced effort and/or decreased pain. Additionally, water can be used as a resistive force for movement that is more tolerable than conventional weights or pulleys.

The Aquatic Therapy department at the Donley Center features a state-of-the-art 62-foot by 18-foot, 3-lane, 4-foot deep pool that is solar-heated to a therapeutic temperature at 92 degrees F. The pool area has natural lighting and controlled ventilation. Temperature, filtration, and chemical feed systems are completely computerized, thus ensuring optimum water quality. The pool and locker rooms are handicapped accessible. The pool has stairs with hand rails to facilitate entering and exiting. Swimming and walking lanes are 42 feet long with an 18-foot by 20-foot rectangular exercise area. A wide variety of therapeutic water equipment is available.

Aquatic therapy is initiated via referral from a licensed physical therapist. Using the properties of water, an individualized program is developed, which addresses the therapeutic goals indicated by the physical therapist. Click here to learn about our full time aquatic physical therapist.

Patients are educated as to the rationale and implementation of their therapy. Workouts are monitored and refined to produce an independent program which has been individualized to meet the patient's therapeutic needs and with the emphasis on carry-over to land activities.