Water has many beneficial therapeutic properties that create a very intensive sensory experience for children.  Firstly, their entire body is surrounded by water, creating total body pressure.  This is more intensive than the deep pressure most of our children get on land.  Children love this feeling.  Some crave it so much that it is very hard to keep them above water.  They want to be deep under water to maximize the effects of hydrostatic pressure all over them.  The deeper the water, the more intense the pressure.

The other extreme is the child who is very afraid of the water.  Because of the buoyancy of the water, children cannot feel where they are in space.  For children who already have body awareness issues, this feeling can be very frightening and they are petrified to be unsupported in the water.  It is also common to see children with tactile issues who get very agitated by others splashing water.  These children get anxious when other  children swim near them.  Their parents are at their wits end because traditional swim lessons have never helped. They want their children to be comfortable in the water. 

Angelfish particularly specializes in working with children like these.  We’ve had 100 percent success getting children comfortable in the water, usually with just a few short-term aquatic therapy sessions.  Children who are fearful, tactilely defensive, motor planning challenged and have poor body awareness typically come for aquatic therapy.  We call their first lesson the “Miracle Session.”  These children need sensory input and special handling to process how to move in the water.  We give the kind of input that makes the child feel safe and comfortable.  Soon the child is able to move independently in the water!

So how does Angelfish accomplish this? As a physical therapist trained in special Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT), I am well versed in how to work with children, strengthening their core muscles and teaching them how to rotate their bodies, which is frequently unfamiliar to them.  Teaming up with Cindy, who is an expert in sensory integration,  we are able to provide just the right amount of input to support and strengthen the child as they plunge in to learn to swim.

Together we combine intensive proprioceptive input with resistive barbell activities, jumping, ankle weights, climbing and trunk rotation activities.  We add intensive vestibular input by having the child move in all directions, depending on the child’s individual needs.   We also prepare the child with touch input and deep pressure  especially around the face, which is most sensitive to the feeling of the water.  Gradually the child is ready to put the chin, lips then nose under the water!

When the child who has intense fear of the water is finally successful, the feeling is indescribable.  The child feels confident and proud and is excited by the feeling of independence in the pool.  Swimming opens up a whole new world to children and provides them with not only a lifelong skill of independent exercise but also the ability to give themselves much needed sensory input for optimal functioning in life.

For more information,  contact Ailene Tisser, P.T.

203-364-1544.  Or visit the website at:

www.angelfishtherapy.com

For other programs throughout the US and additional information:

http://www.aquaticnet.com/index.htm

http://www.atri.org/ATRICertification.htm