Aquatic Therapy

Rehabilitation Medicine

Our Aquatic Physical Therapy Program is available at NewYork-Presbyterian Hopsital/Weill Cornell Medical Center on East 68th Street. It is often referred to as "pool therapy" and can be a very effective compliment to the therapy program. The pool is heated to 98° Fahrenheit and provides a comfortable medium for performing exercises and activities that may be too difficult to perform outside of the water.

The pool is staffed with a physical therapist that is responsible for patient evaluation and treatment using the principles of aquatic physical therapy. Patients treated in our pool may be inpatients or outpatients who have pain or difficulty with movement as a result of arthritis, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, muscle spasms, orthopedic injuries and sometimes, neurological disorders.

Interventions may include relaxation exercises, mobility exercises, strengthening, stretching and walking exercises. We have a variety of equipment available in the pool including an exercise table, chairs and parallel bars as well as floatation devices and resistive equipment. If necessary, patients can be transferred into and out of the pool with a chair or stretcher lift.

Aquatic physical therapy is provided as a part of a physical therapy program and requires a physician's prescription.