Hydrotherapy for differently abled

The much-awaited session on Aquatic Physiotherapy for the Challenged People held at Rehab India on Monday, began in darkness with a power-cut. But when the main speaker of the day, Madhavi Latha, senior manager at Scope International and founder of the Yes, We Too Can Movement, began her presentation,  she was glowing with the benevolence at the second chance to live again, thanks to hydrotherapy. Madhavi  has more than 80 per cent permanent disability due to polio. With sheer perseverance, she completed her education, acquiring several academic and professional qualifications.

However, physical complexities began mounting from the age of 35 and soon, her condition turned life-threatening. Her doctor had even issued a one-year written deadline for her life, which she read out to the audience.Her image in her x-ray vaguely resembled a spinal chord, a little below the neck from where it took an acute bend, twisting her body towards one side. Soon, her compressed lungs would not be able to breathe. “I’m alive today smiling and sharing all this with you, thanks to my physiotherapist Dr Ananda Jothi and his advice on hydrotherapy,” beams the now 41-year old Madhavi, who has never been this healthy and strong.

Having overcome the horrors of sedentary living, Madhavi is now committed to the cause of sports for the differently-abled through her movement. Walking her talk, she participated in the Corporate Olympiad 2010, held for able-bodied persons, winning the “Most Encouraging Sportsperson of the Year” award.So what is hydrotherapy? Dr Ananda Jothi, specialist in Musculoskeletal Manipulative Physiotherapy and founder-chairman of Rehab India, Nungambakkam, says it is a form of physiotherapy done in water to revitalise, maintain and restore health. Sebastian Kneip is the father of hydrotherapy and it was Socrates who first identified and applied the use of water in medicine. Water has the properties of buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, viscosity and hydromechanics, which help in blood circulation, weight-bearing in the joints, free movement, improvement in balancing power, pain relief and building muscular resistance and bone density. Different equipment such as arm bends, swim belts, kick boards, woggles and full buoys are used. Of course, hydrotherapy poses its own risks for the physically-challenged like infections and slippery floors.

The Swimming Pool Hoist could be a boon in getting them in and out of the pool, but it is quite expensive and unavailable in India. But if one takes the necessary precautions and overcome the initial difficulties, the benefits far outweigh the risks with regular practice, says Madhavi, who assures of 60-70 per cent improvement. Ananda cautions those with certain conditions like skin infections, open wounds, acute fever, incontinence, malignancy, seizures and heart problems to avoid water exercises.Ananda is also a member in the International Paralympics Committee, which conducts swimming competition for people with physical disabilities and visual impairment. However, such competitions for intellectually challenged people is still under review.

The benefits of aquatic physiotherapy are multifarious – to recover from serious injuries, prevent muscle wastage, freedom from calipers and pain, and losing body weight. New movements can be learnt under water and intensive exercises can be given to people with severe disabilities. And all these skills could be transferred to everyday lives. “Hydrotherapy enables persons with disabilities to achieve their true potential,” sums up Dr Ananda.To register for swimming classes for the differently-abled, send a mail to madavi.prathi@gmail.com and. Dr Ananda Jothi can be contacted at cajothi@gmail.com.  Rehab India is located at No 26/19, 5th  cross  street, Lake Area,  (Behind Valluvarkottam, near Four Frames Theatre) Nungambakkam. (The writer has first hand experience with cerebral palsy.)