Take advantage of physical therapy in pools

Take advantage of physical therapy in pools

Pools are often associated with family fun or competitive activities such as swimming or water polo. They’re even known for being a stage for synchronized swimming, but what about physical therapy?

As a pool manager, you know the physical benefits that working out in the pool can offer. The buoyancy and resistance of water provides a unique environment that can’t be found outside of pools.

Consider physical therapy at your pool
Chances are, you’ve experimented with different programs throughout the years. Pools can host a variety of activities, from leisure to recreation to competition. You may even have a multi-use pool that allows swimmers to enjoy different activities at the same time.

Regardless, you can explore the potential benefits of hosting physical therapy sessions. If you have a multi-use pool, you can use the leisure end for these courses. For single-use pools, assess which hours have the lowest attendance and consider closing off the pool for an hour or so to give physical therapy classes a try. There are a number of ways that you can do this. If you’re unsure of where to begin, here are some ideas.

1. Work with the local hospital: Of course, you want certified professionals handling such classes, and there’s no quicker way to find them than at the local hospital or physical rehabilitation center. This can be especially rewarding if the institutions don’t have pools of their own. Collaborate with health care professionals and offer your pool expertise to implement a physical therapy program at your site.

2. Rent it out: If you don’t have the time to coordinate programming with other groups, you can still take advantage of physical therapy sessions by renting out your pool to health care professionals. This shows that you’re committed to the overall well-being of the community and can establish your facility’s presence as both healthy and fun.

3. Have current staff become instructors: If there are staff members who are interested in a health-oriented role but want to remain in the aquatics industry, this can be the perfect opportunity for them to train in physical therapy. This way, you have an in-house specialist who you’ve worked with and know you can rely on.

As peak season returns, planning should involve all potential audiences. If you’re looking for new opportunities, this may be the ideal starting point.