When you have a physical setback or health-related issue, the aquatic rehabilitation specialists at CentraState’s OceanFirst Rehabilitation Center in Monmouth County can help you to regain your strength faster—so you can get back to the activities you enjoy. We’ve seen aquatic therapy work wonders for many people, including competitive athletes and those who are:
- Recovering from sports-related injuries, work-related injuries, or musculoskeletal injuries
- Recovering from joint replacement procedures or other surgeries
- Suffering from conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia
- Experiencing chronic pain
Pediatric aquatic physical therapy is available for children with a variety of special needs, including cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and other movement disorders.
THE BENEFITS OF AQUATIC THERAPY
Aquatic physical therapy uses water to minimize the effects of gravity and stress on your body so you can move more easily and with less pain. It reduces joint stress and provides muscle resistance and ease of movement through a relatively low-impact environment. This helps achieve rapid improvements in your mobility, strength, and function during the healing process. Other benefits include:
- Decreased swelling (lymphedema, trauma, post-surgical recovery)
- Improved trunk (lower back and abdomen) stabilization
- Improved gait and posture
- Increased cardiovascular circulation
- Increased endurance and muscle tone
- Increased range of motion and flexibility
- Increased balance and coordination
HOW THE AQUATIC THERAPY PROGRAM WORKS
Your therapy session is usually held in one of our Aquatic Center’s three therapeutic pools. An in-pool therapy session may include running or walking on the underwater treadmill, in-pool step training, or the use of weights, buoys, and specialized aquatic therapy products for resistance and support. Our three pools include:
A warm-water pool averaging 90° F. This pool is great for those with chronic pain issues, including arthritis, spasticity (muscle tension), or fibromyalgia. The warmth relaxes tight muscles and soothes sore tissues.
A cool-water lap pool averaging 85° F. This pool is helpful for those with inflammation, such as post-surgical patients or patients with temperature sensitivity (such as those with multiple sclerosis).
A HydroWorx® pool averaging 96° F.  HydroWorx® benefits a variety of patients, including those with chronic pain or those recovering from a total joint replacement or musculoskeletal injury. Professional and amateur athletes also use this pool for conditioning and rehabilitating sports injuries. HydroWorx® features:
- A variable-speed underwater treadmill with only 15 percent of the normal stress on joints
- Resistance jets to work upper- and lower-body muscle groups, safely maximizing results
- Variable floor depth, so even if you’re uncomfortable in deep water, you still can enjoy the benefits
- Underwater video monitoring so you can view your training and technique
We tailor each session to meet your unique needs, and the length and frequency of the sessions depend on your capabilities. If you require greater assistance, therapists can be in the pool to assist with rehabilitation. Additional land exercises and hands-on therapy may be incorporated into your treatment plan to achieve the best outcome.
AQUATIC AND ANTI-GRAVITY TREADMILLS
Our aquatic and anti-gravity treadmills provide a revolutionary approach to physical therapy, sports medicine, and conditioning. They allow you to build muscle strength, improve cardiovascular stamina, and increase healing—without the impact associated with walking on a regular treadmill. Both treadmills work well for competitive and recreational athletes as well as those who are:
- Dealing with joint issues
- Recovering from surgery
- Living with a neurological condition
- Experiencing balance problems
- Hydroworx® Aquatic Treadmill
CentraState was the first hospital in the state to acquire this innovative underwater treadmill. Users can walk, run, or simulate sports movements without the body weight or joint impact. Our underwater treadmill is a component of our aquatic therapy program.
CentraState is one of only a few rehabilitation centers in New Jersey to offer the Alter G® Anti Gravity Treadmill®. Created by NASA, the treadmill reduces the impact of gravity by 20 to 100 percent of your body weight by one percent increments—allowing you to walk, run, and jump without the joint impact.
Joe H.
Joe H.
Joe Holden isn’t a quitter. After six spine surgeries and countless hours of traditional physical therapy in eight years, the Manalapan resident still needed a wheelchair to get around. For Joe, that wasn’t living. Joe suffers from spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the spinal cord and the nerves within the spine. The condition...Read More >
Annemarie Duncan
Annemarie Duncan
Annemarie Duncan always led an active lifestyle, from golfing and gardening to joining her grandchildren on the trampoline. But more recently, severe back pain related to double scoliosis, spinal stenosis, arthritis, and bulging disks put many of her activities on hold. Last year, the 68-year-old Freehold resident traveled to Philadelphia to undergo a complex surgery that left her with a...Read More >
