Why Aquatic Therapy?
Because it’s fun! Buoyancy reduces gravity, so it’s a safe place to challenge balance and relieve muscle and joint pain.
Benefits of Aquatic Therapy
Improve Balance
Increase Bloodflow
Gain Strength
Our Services
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Pediatric Aquatic Therapy
Aquatic therapy for children with:
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Cerebral Palsy
Down Syndrome ant oher genetic disorders and disabilities
Muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular disorders
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Adult Aquatic Therapy
Aquatic therapy for adults with:
Post operative therapy
Spinal Cord Injuries
Balance/Gait/Strengthening needs
Stroke Rehab
Hi, I’m Kristin!
That’s why I got my clinical competency certification in aquatic therapy through the Academy of Aquatic Physical Therapy and started First Step’s aquatic therapy program! I love the freedom of movement that water can give. Buoyancy and compression together make water a unique place to build strong muscles and practice new skills that otherwise might be difficult on land. Working with patients in the pool is also just so much fun!
Swimming has been a long time passion of mine. I started swimming when I was 8, swam through high school and college, and now compete on the Snohomish Aquatic Center’s Master’s team! I have even qualified for Nationals a few times.
Water you waiting for? Let's see if aquatic therapy (swim) suits you so you can get back in the swim of things!
I love being in the water! I never get tired of seeing the joy on my patients’ faces when they realize they can do something in the water that they couldn’t do on land.
What does aquatic therapy look like?
During aquatic therapy treatment, we might use a variety of equipment, such as:
Water wheel chairs (various sizes)
Water walker
Ankle weights
Aquatic dumbbells
Pool noodles
Gait belt/safety belt
A variety of fun pool toys!
FAQs
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If your insurance is in-network, we will bill your insurance for physical therapy, because we are doing physical therapy in the pool!
A pool fee will also be charged for each session. This will be used for reserving the pool because we contract a space for our aquatic therapy sessions. This fee cannot be billed to insurance.
Patients who have or purchase a SAC Pass or Punch Card cannot apply our clinic’s pool fee to this card. We are contracted with Snohomish Aquatic Center to provide our own services, and SAC cannot accept payment for renting space at the pool from the patient directly.
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You can do aquatic therapy with any level or experience with swimming, including no experience!
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The Snohomish Aquatic Center has a pool chair lift to assist with transferring into the pool. It also has a zero entry to allow for a gradual increase in pool depth for more ambulatory patients so that the level of support in the water can be adjusted for each patient.
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The pool will provide life preservers as needed, free of cost!
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No. In aquatic therapy, the emphasis is on functional movement and strengthening. Since it is pool-based physical therapy, life-saving skills are incorporated into treatment.
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In aquatic therapy, we treat all ages!
Our in-clinic services are provided only to children.
First Step Pediatric Therapy rents out space at Snohomish Aquatic Center to provide aquatic therapy services
Snohomish Aquatic Center
516 Maple Ave
Snohomish, WA 98290