Aquatherapy at Smarmore Castle
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It is well-known that water can provide incredible benefits and healing powers, so it is no surprise that it often plays a part in rehabilitation programmes for addiction. Aquatherapy is a form of exercise that uses water to relax the body and enhance the nervous system’s recovery. Usually, people battling substance abuse lack the endurance and energy to work out. However, aquatherapy can be an answer to this problem. The buoyancy of the water eases the force of gravity, making the patient feel light when they exercise so they do not tire out too quickly.
What Are Some Benefits of Aquatherapy?
So, water has the power to heal and can help people manage various health problems, but what exactly are the main advantages of aquatherapy during addiction recovery?
It Offers Relief From Muscle Tension and Pain
The lack of gravity in the water helps to relieve strain and tension while encouraging the production of endorphins which act as natural pain relievers.
It Brings Faster Recovery
Submerging yourself in water can increase blood circulation and has been medically shown to assist in the healing of wounded tissue, aiding in the recovery from physical injury or damage to muscles and joints.
It Boosts Your Immune System
The improved circulation and movement of white blood cells resulting from aquatherapy can help lymph fluid flow more smoothly throughout the body, providing a booster to the immune system.
It Flushes Out Toxins
Aquatherapy helps the body release toxins through sweat, enabling a thorough cleanse of the system.
It Soothes Stress
Aquatherapy offers a natural escape from stress, mediating blood pressure and slowing the body’s response to anxiety. As a bonus, it stimulates the release of endorphins, a natural anti-stressor.
It Brings a Sense of Peace and Connection With Oneself
Working out or floating in the pool can help increase body awareness, improving mindfulness and mobility.
Techniques and Benefits of Aqua Therapy
Several specialised aquatic exercises help alleviate pain and relax the body and mind. Tai Chi, originating in Japan and popular throughout North America, increases the body’s strength and endurance. Watsu is performed in warm water, beginning with the patient curled up in a fetal position and gradually progressing into various postures and stretches. The Burdenko method, used globally in recovery programmes, requires minimal effort while providing maximum results. The Bad Ragaz Ring Method (BRRM) is also well-known in physical rehabilitation. Patients will lie in the water supine and use flotation rings around their necks, pelvis, ankles, and knees to aid them in exercise.
The effectiveness of water-based therapy is well established. Depending on the patient’s health and physical condition, the specialists at our centre will provide them with a custom treatment plan for their aquatherapy programme.
Keys To Successful Addiction Recovery
After beginning rehabilitation, making healthy lifestyle changes and implementing strategies to enhance your recovery process and ensure its success is essential.
Improve and Maintain Your Physical Well-Being
Prioritising physical health is fundamental to your recovery. Learning to experience pleasure without drugs or alcohol is crucial to your rehabilitation. Different fitness programmes can help promote positive emotions by secreting dopamine (the happy hormone).
Healthy sleep is another vital aspect of physical wellness that you must take care of during and after treatment. Regulating your circadian rhythm is essential. It can help your body produce hormones, regenerate cells, promote a well-operating cardiovascular system, keep a healthy weight, and improve digestion.
You will learn healthy eating habits at the rehabilitation centre that you can use in your recovery after completing your treatment programme. Buying and preparing healthy foods will help you stay the course with the plan to restore your physical health.
Fight Boredom
Boredom is one of the biggest challenges in rehab since it can make you think or act in ways that could set you back on your recovery journey. For this reason, it is necessary to have an activity schedule and stay busy.
Finding things to do that make you happy, like picking up a new activity, joining a club, going back to school, or taking on a part-time job or volunteer opportunity, can help prevent boredom and bring more joy into your life. But it is equally important to leave room for some relaxation to avoid stress and the temptation to go back to unhealthy habits to cope with the demands of life.
Personalised Treatment
Put Yourself First
Incorporating self-care into your daily routine during and post-treatment is essential. Make yourself a priority and partake in activities that help you recharge and refresh. Design your schedule to include time and space for rest and pleasure.
Practising self-care looks different for everyone. Maybe you like snuggling up with a blanket and a good book or taking a long bath. Or perhaps you need to burn off some energy by taking a walk or going for a swim.
Self-care also includes getting in tune with your inner self. You can do this through spiritual acts, like prayer, or by participating in activities such as yoga and meditation. Furthermore, developing creative vocations such as painting, drawing, singing, or playing an instrument are fantastic ways to connect with yourself and allow you to express emotion and relieve stress. Smarmore Castle has many creative therapies available to help you get started.
Swimming and Long-Term Recovery
Recovering from addiction is a long-term effort. Overcoming dependence is not about completing one particular task but a series of activities and lifestyle adjustments that will improve your well-being and make life enjoyable. Swimming is a great way to help reduce the effects of withdrawal symptoms during treatment and prepare for a new life afterwards.
Swimming regularly as part of your addiction recovery journey can bring many benefits, including those described below.
Swimming Is Good for Your Mental Health
People turn to alcohol and other substances when looking for ways to feel good. Or at least better. Combating addiction involves a big mental battle, so finding healthy sources of happiness and pleasure is necessary to achieve long-term success. Swimmers report they feel more relaxed and less focused on everyday worries when immersed in the water. Additionally, regular physical activity can help reduce stress and depression by boosting feel-good hormones such as endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin.
Interestingly, swimming in open water has been found to have the same positive effects on the nervous system as yoga.
Swimming Provides the Same Benefits as Working Out at the Gym While Being Less Hard on Your Body
Following long periods of substance abuse, patients are generally mentally and physically drained, doing away with any prospect of going to the gym or participating in strenuous physical activity. Swimming is an excellent alternative as it is a full-body exercise. It helps you increase stamina while boosting your metabolism and building muscle mass. It is an effective way to regain strength quickly.
Swimming Makes You Feel Better About Your Body
Water is gentle and comforting. Immersing yourself in water can be a liberating and enjoyable experience that helps you rediscover, reconnect with, and appreciate your body. Swimming builds self-confidence and promotes self-acceptance as you explore your strengths and weaknesses. It is a vital step for long-term recovery.
Physical Therapy and Fitness Training During Rehab
Physical therapy and fitness sessions are crucial to any substance addiction recovery journey. Long-term drug use not only compromises emotional well-being but also has a detrimental impact on physical health. A life consumed by addiction typically lacks healthy activities or attention directed toward physical wellness. Months and years of abuse can leave lasting damage. Still, with professional guidance, physical therapy can help patients heal from the inside out.
Physical therapy serves as a rehabilitation tool to mend what addiction has broken. It also serves as an excellent source of motivation since patients can visibly see the results of their hard work and set goals for themselves that they aim to surpass. At Smarmore Castle, all the patients attend three fitness sessions per week. Our team of professionals implements different techniques and exercises to help patients manage their pain syndrome while regaining strength and endurance.
Physical activity promotes better habits, prevents dark thoughts that could trigger a relapse, and helps patients feel more confident about themselves.
Aquatherapy at Smarmore Castle
Smarmore Castle has a 22-meter pool, perfect for various physical activities, like swimming and aqua aerobics. Our aquatic fitness trainer teaches patients how to use the pool for workouts that promote healing and helps them explore therapeutic practices, such as water yoga. Patients start seeing an improvement in their health almost immediately; some even take up swimming as a lasting hobby. Taking pleasure in rebuilding one’s body yields fantastic results.
After the exercises in the pool and gym, patients can treat themselves to a visit to our sauna and steam rooms. Taking in the hot steam helps flush out toxins through sweat, and when combined with swimming, it accelerates the cleansing process.
Individualised Addiction Treatment That Promotes Healing
At Smarmore Castle, each patient gets a tailored treatment plan to fit their unique needs. The treatment depends on the age of the patient, as well as their medical history and overall health. A team of professionals conducts a full assessment before drafting up an individualised recovery programme composed of different therapies adapted to the issues of the patient.
Targeting the root causes of addiction and providing clear steps for long-lasting recovery is the most effective way to avoid relapse.
Each road to addiction is unique, and each way out of it is even more so. Our mission is to treat everyone with care and attention, aid them in discovering their inner potential, help them regain self-confidence, and find a new direction in life.
References
- 2018 NEXT: Physical Therapy Can Play a Part in Addiction Treatment (2018). Available at: https://www.apta.org/news/2018/07/02/2018-next-physical-therapy-can-play-a-part-in-addiction-treatment.
- Davidlogan (2016) 8 benefits of swimming whatever your fitness level. Available at: https://www.swimming.org/justswim/8-benefits-of-swimming/.
- Victorkossoski (2023) “Tested Addiction Treatment You Can Trust,” Smarmore Castle. Available at: https://www.smarmore-rehab-clinic.com/addiction-treatment/.
- Sinha, P. (2022b) Go for a Swim for These 6 Mental Health Benefits. Available at: https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/feeling-blue-go-for-a-swim-for-these-6-mental-health-benefits/.
- Twark, C., MD (2018) Can exercise help conquer addiction? Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-exercise-help-conquer-addiction-2018122615641.