What is the typical temperature of a therapeutic pool, and what populations would benefit from a cooler temperature pool?
Answer
Typical temperature of a therapy pool would probably be anywhere between 89 to 94 maybe even 96 degrees. So that is your basic thermoneutral to warm water pool. A cooler temperature would be anywhere from 79 degrees to 85 degrees. So that would be more of your recreational pool. When we talk about individuals with MS in particular, they are going to really benefit from working out in a cooler temperature pool. If you work them out in a warm body of water, they tend to be done for the rest of the day. Energy wise, they are completely depleted. You might even see that depletion carry on into a 48 hour time period.
Fibromyalgia patients definitely do better in warmer water. I highly recommend not going below 90 degrees with individuals with Fibromyalgia or any chronic pain condition in general, because it is going to elicit a greater relaxation effect. That is going to assist in you doing anything you want in that therapy time. So, definitely go to a warmer pool with this population.
Lori Sherlock, MS, ATRIC, AEA Fitness Specialist, CSCS
Lori A. Sherlock is an assistant professor in the School of Medicine at West Virginia University. She coordinates and teaches the aquatic therapy curriculum within the division of Exercise Physiology and is proud to state that it is the only one like it in the nation. Lori is an Aquatic Exercise Association trainer and a member of the Aquatic Exercise Association’s Research Committee. She contributes often to the AKWA magazine and has a great interest in furthering the field of aquatics through research. Lori has also presented for the APTA, NSCA, International Aquatic Fitness Conference as well as the World Aquatic Health Conference.
Related Courses
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