If you are a patient who has not considered this option, you might be surprised to learn that finding pool-based therapy is normally relatively easy since most physical therapy centers have programs that utilize swimming pools in some capacity. Even if the therapy center does not have a pool on-site, it may have off-site arrangements with a pool nearby.

 

Basic pool therapy can be exercise and range of motion work in the water under the guidance of a physical therapist. Simple exercises such as kicking, bending, and squats in the water are tremendous starts for patients encumbered by incapacitating AVN. More advanced pool therapy options begin to work into various types of swimming as a way to build stamina and strength. This series of articles, which will be published in multiple parts, will detail practical and helpful information to aid AVN patients wishing to get the most out of swim therapy specifically.

 

Of course, the major issue for many AVN patients is that exercise of an AVN afflicted joint is often either severely painful or restricted by lesion location, size, or state of decay. Swim therapy helps circumvent these normal exercise limitations by virtue of that fact that water reduces the stresses of weight-bearing and allows a safe and controllable resistance. Simply exert less effort to reduce joint stress, or exert more effort to work the muscle groups harder. Patients who have difficulty with land-based physical therapy often find that swim therapy results in less pain, less joint stress, and thus better healing.

 

When just getting started with swim therapy, the first and most important recommendation is to take it very slow and easy initially. Exercise in water has the deceptive ability to feel tolerable at the time but then hit you with complete exhaustion later. Take your time in learning your limits and how the aftereffects of swim exercise will present.

 

Some patients are surprised to learn how seriously Avascular Necrosis of a joint can disrupt swim balance and coordination. Even previously expert swimmers now affected by AVN try to swim away with the grace of an aquatic animal only to partially sink and choke on mouthfuls of water. Weakened joints and muscles definitely disrupt balance and coordination. Lower extremity AVN can affect the legs to such a degree that patients find it hard to balance the body flat while attempting to swim. In fact, many patients wishing to workout with swim therapy need to go back to the basics and learn to swim all over again.

 

If you are having trouble swimming due to balance, coordination, or strength issues, the best first step is to perform a number of drills that help isolate the individual components of swimming to identify problem areas. Even if you think you know the nature of the problem, these drills can help uncover enlightening and very helpful details. 

 

If you have worked on and completed the drills, hopefully you are now armed with a better understanding as to the nature of the challenges before you. Don't be discouraged if swim therapy does not come as easily as you might have liked or expected. A former triathlete who was interviewed noted that recovery from double-knee Avascular Necrosis required literally learning to swim all over again by starting back at the most fundamental basics.

 

To come: Swim Therapy part II, mastering breathing and balance.