Standing like a normal person!!! Here I am standing up, something I had not
been able to do since 2011 the last time I had aquatic therapy in Georgia. This
picture was taken at Lake Forest Health & Fitness Center which I had the
opportunity to enjoy while I was visiting my daughter.
One
of the doctors that saw me in the early stages of my Muscular Dystrophy and to
whom I asked if exercise would be beneficial for my illness, responded to me that
I should exercise with caution. He went on to explain that because Miyoshi
Myopathy stops the ability of the body to produce the dysferlin protein (which
is a component of the muscular fiber membranes), I should highly value the
dysferlin supply I still had. Spend your
actual supply of dysferlin -he said-, with the same prudence as you would spend
money in a savings account that you know you will not be able to replenish.
Thus, my interest in Aquatic Therapy! Aquatic therapy in a heated therapeutic pool (90°F to 92°F) is said to
help
in many ways. For one, the
buoyancy of water decreases the amount of weight bearing causing less stress in
the joints; the warm water helps
increase circulation, respiratory
rate, muscle metabolism, strength, flexibility and ease of movement and also,
helps to relax muscles and vasodilators vessels increasing blood flow.
Sandy
Oeverman, CTRS, ResCare Premier says: The water is an ideal environment for
muscle reeducation for individuals with neurological impairments. The
resistance of the water provides people with cognitive deficits extra time to
respond because the body will naturally move slower in the water. (https://www.brainline.org/article/why-aquatic-therapy)
Deb Cox says: Aquatic
exercise is a low impact tool that yields high impact results with limited
joint stress and muscle fatigue. Water creates a safe environment where anyone
can achieve a great workout without risking injury. Water exercises also have
the amazing ability to speed up recovery from an injury or maintain health. (https://www.swimex.com/residential/blog/aquatic-exercise-the-ultimate-workout/)
I wish I had done more
aquatic therapy the 5 years I lived in Georgia, because now it has been 18
years since I was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and my muscles have
suffered great waste. Moving back to
Florida, my husband and I were determined to find a home with a community pool friendly
to aquatic therapy.
ARTICLES
YOU MIGHT LIKE TO READ
LOOKING
BACK:
I wish someone had
reinforced upon me the importance of getting, as soon as possible, the therapy
and the device that could help.
