The MemorialCare Spine Health Center at Long Beach Medical Center offers aquatic spine therapy, which provides a unique and effective approach to address back and neck pain. With over 50 million people in the U.S. experiencing such issues, aquatic therapy proves to be a valuable option.
Aquatic spine therapy focuses on strengthening, range of motion, and improving functional movements through a personalized exercise plan in the shallow and deep water. Shallow-water exercises improve muscle strength, flexibility, and functional balance, while deep-water exercises provide heart rate conditioning through buoyancy-assisted pain-free movements. Buoyancy belts are provided for deep-water exercises, allowing patients to stay above water effortlessly and move their legs more freely. The goal of this therapy is to successfully provide the necessary tools to maintain an enjoyable and challenging life-long exercise program.
The aquatic therapy approach is particularly beneficial as exercise training in water allows for large range movements, decreased inflammation, and higher intensity workouts with minimal discomfort. The World Health Organization categorizes optimal cardiovascular health with > 20 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise a day. This could be more easily achievable in the water for those that have pain.
This therapy is designed for people experiencing back and neck pain or for rehabilitation after surgery. We focus on optimizing exercise tolerance and minimizing pain based on each individual's performance and functional goals.
As a regional leader in surgical outcomes, the MemorialCare Spine Health Center prioritizes the patient experience during recovery. This dedication has been recognized with awards, such as America's 100 Best Spine Surgery and Back and Neck Surgery Five-Star Recipient in 2021 and 2023 by Healthgrades. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report has acknowledged the center as a High Performing Hospital for Spinal Fusion for two consecutive years (2022-2023).
For inquiries about aquatic therapy, feel free to reach out to [email protected] or [email protected].