Celebrating 32 years of service 1980-2012

Director: Linda Haynes PTC

Assistant Director: Jennifer Scoggins OTR/L

We are very proud to now offer a full Aquatic Therapy program in our new pool located in our remodeled and expanded clinic. The pool opened on Monday, March 30th, 2010. The water temperature is kept at an average of 92 degrees and with an ADA approved lift, it provides full accessibility. We offer Aquatic Therapy for patients who need Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy and provide Aquatic Therapy for our Sports Medicine patients when appropriate. One-on-one sessions start at 30 minutes for young children progressing to 45-minute and 60-minute sessions. All of our licensed therapists, who treat patients in the pool, are also certified as Shallow Water Attendants through the American Red Cross.

The physical properties of water make it a great tool to promote and help with alignment, muscle activation, balance, body awareness, symmetry, strength, flexibility, muscle relaxation, core weaknesses, sensory integration, speech/respiratory disorders, and more.

Aquatic Therapy is not meant to replace land-based therapy, but it can be very effective when used in conjunction with it. Unfortunately, not all children are necessarily appropriate for Aquatic Therapy.

According to Director Linda Haynes, “Aquatic Therapy assists in achieving land-based goals. Habitual habits, natural resistance and other obstacles faced in conventional land-based therapy are more overcome in the water. It will empower parents and family by giving them the ability to reproduce therapy in a fun and effective way. Essentially, Aquatic Therapy bridges the gap between professional therapy and everyday life.”

Speech Therapist Sheila Feerich indicates that Speech Therapy in conjunction with Aquatic Therapy helps patients

From an Occupational Therapy perspective, Occupational Therapist Monica Griffin (former Monica Ciukaj) states, “ Aquatic Therapy focuses on therapeutic play-based activities that are functional to help improve range of motion, improve body awareness, facilitate neurodevelopmental growth, and promote sensory integration. The warm water provides increased motivation, opportunity for challenges, and intense proprioceptive and tactile input through which children can continue to develop their skills in a safe and supported environment.”

A former patient, now a young adult points out, “The water temperature of the pool helps relax tense muscles to improve flexibility. I think that anyone that has tight muscles will benefit from the soothing water. It will loosen the muscles and help them more.”

Tot Swim Classes

We have started a new program in which parent and child are in the pool together. These small classes, currently in progress, stress water awareness and basic swimming skills for children:

Current Session

January 9^th, 2012 through February 13^th, 2012

Class sizes are limited to four parent and child per session.

All Children are welcome: patients, non-patients, siblings, friends, etc.

Pay & Sign up at the Main Reception Desk

** Please note that we require all children who wear diapers to have a "lined swin pants" on over diapers or disposable swimmers.

These swim pants can be purchased at the main desk at APT for an additional fee.

Tot Swim Class Flyer

Next Session

Mondays starting October 31^th, 2011 thru December 5^th, 2011

Aquatic Therapy Brochure

Aqua Therapy and Pool Pictures

Aquatic Therapy Can Be Fun

Caption: Maddox Carrasco, treated by Occupational Therapist Monica Ciukaj was the first patient to use APT's New Therapy Pool