How cute is that? Little Jake over there is undergoing aquatic rehabilitation in an underwater treadmill after paralyzing his rear limbs in an unfortunate accident. One veterinarian’s initial prognosis was that Jake would not be able to walk again. But after physical therapy and the underwater treadmill, Jake is back on his feet and happier than ever.

Canines are not the only species that can benefit from aquatic therapy. Whether it is used to help people recover from acute injuries or to maintain health in the face of chronic disease, hydrotherapy is regarded as having “broad rehabilitative potential” that is relatively underused (Becker, 2009).

Water: An ideal medium for exercise.

Swimming is widely recommended by medical experts for its healthful benefits*. According to the American Red Cross, the buoyancy of water results in less stress on the joints, helping to reduce swelling and tissue damage. Warm water can increase circulation, decrease pain, and increase muscle relaxation and soft tissue flexibility.

Patients (and puppies) looking to strengthen muscles should exercise in pools with some turbulence.
Aquatic exercise: Benefits galore

• Lower risk of death In a 2009 Washington State University study of over 40,000 men, exercise swimmers had less than half the mortality risk of sedentary men, and exercise swimmers had half the mortality risk of exercise walkers and runners.
• Aids patients with COPD A 2009 study of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) found the swimming pool a “feasible and positive alternative venue for pulmonary rehabilitation”.
• Asthma Many studies have found swimming improves asthma symptoms; LaKind et al. cite Welsh et al. ¹, who reviewed the relevant scientific literature. According to LaKind et al., Welsh et al. note that most studies find “positive effects of swim training on fitness as measured by improved aerobic efficiency, physical working performance, and recovery heart rates.”
• Heart healthy Aquatic exercise strengthens the heart muscle and improves oxygen delivery to the muscles.
• Reduces water and sodium retention Animal data collected in Brazil ² indicate exercise in water might be prescriptive for patients with hypertension, obesity and/or mild renal disease as it reduces water and sodium retention.
• Hand eye coordination and balance According to a study done in Taiwan, swimming can improve hand eye coordination and balance in the elderly, which could lower a senior’s risk of a falling-related injury.
• Bone health Aquatic exercise can maintain or improve bone health in post-menopausal women.
• Better flexibility and range of motion According to the American Red Cross, when accompanied by good stretching habits, aquatic exercise can greatly improve flexibility and aid range of motion.
• Improved mood Swimming can improve the mental state of both men and women, the elderly and women with fibromyalgia, mothers, and parents of children with developmental disabilities.

Swimming may be the BEST and most enjoyable form of exercise, so give it a try!

*The American Red Cross recommends a health assessment from your health care provider before you begin an exercise program.

Ralph Morris, MD, MPH, is a Physician and Preventive Medicine and Public Health official living in Bemidji, MN.

². Fabri et al.,(2010). Aquatic and Land Exercise Training Affects Renal Function in Rats Under Isosmotic Volume Expansion, Journal of Exercise Physiology, vol. 13, no. 2.

With high temperatures plaguing much of the country, the pool seems like the best bet to beat the heat. This blog highlights two interesting and entertaining resources recently found in the media that can help keep swimming healthy and enjoyable.

1. CDC’s Healthy Swimming 2011 Video Contest Winner’s Video!

This summer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) challenged the public to create a short video to help educate swimmers about pool safety.  The winners, David and Aaron Mathews, worked with friends and family to develop “Recreational Water Illness Police,” a clip that uses humor to inform viewers about the most common recreational water illness—diarrhea. Roger that.

2. Quiz:  Is It Safe To Pee In The Pool … And Other Water Safety Questions

Want to test your water safety knowledge? A Huffington Post online quiz emphasizes key swimming safety issues, some of which are often overlooked, such as showering before entering the pool.  It is important that swimmers shower with soap (especially swimmer “bottoms”) before swimming so they do not introduce harmful bacteria into the pool.  This fact is lost on all but 25 percent of parents according to a recent report.  And no, it is not safe to pee in the pool.



But before diving in, it may be a good idea to know just what you are diving into.  Most pools are properly maintained, allowing swimmers to simply enjoy the water.  However, last summer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported pool inspection data from 13 states indicated about one in eight public pool inspections resulted in pools being closed immediately due to serious code violations.

Dip before You Dive!

How do you know if a pool is properly maintained? There are hardly enough pool inspectors to go around, so CDC recommends swimmers take matters into their own hands and test pool water before getting in the pool.  It’s easy and free and will only take you a minute. Before swimming, dip a color-coded test strip into the water and check to see if the pH and chlorine readings are at appropriate levels. The pH should register between 7.2 and 7.8, and the free chlorine level should be between 1.0 and 4.0 parts per million (ppm).  If levels are out of those ranges, pool staff should be notified immediately. Pool staff should ascertain and correct the problem; if swimmers are unsatisfied with the pool staff response, CDC recommends they contact their local health department.

Swimmer’s Ear:  Listen up

New “swimmer’s ear” statistics provide a good reason to check pools for adequate pH and chlorine levels.  The May 20 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) notes that “swimmer’s ear” accounts for 2.4 million doctor visits and nearly $500 million in health care costs annually.  According to CDC, pools with proper pH and chlorine levels are less likely to harbor the bacteria that can cause “swimmer’s ear” and other germs that cause recreational water illnesses, including diarrhea and various skin infections.

Free Pool Test Kit Offer

This summer, the Water Quality & Health Council is offering free pool test kits to swimmers across the country. These can be requested online at http://www.healthypools.org/freeteststrips. Kits include three pool test strips and a pamphlet of information, including CDC’s tips for preventing “Swimmer’s Ear.”  We are asking swimmers to return to www.healthypools.org/freeteststrips to upload their pool chemistry results, contributing to an informal survey of pool health across the country.  We’ve even developed a convenient smart-phone application on that webpage to enable swimmers to upload data poolside.

What We Did Last Summer

Last summer, the Water Quality & Health Council provided more than 43,000 free pool test strips to individuals who requested them via the Healthy Pools website.  Data submitted last summer by close to 800 swimmers who had requested the strips indicated that 40 percent of pools had either unacceptable pH or chlorine readings.  We look forward to this summer’s results and further raising awareness of the importance of proper pool chemistry.

Check www.healthypools.org for more summer swimming tips.

For more information on preventing recreational water illnesses, please visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/.

Chris Wiant, M.P.H., Ph.D., is president and CEO of the Caring for Colorado Foundation. He is also chair of the Water Quality & Health Council.

Why Worry? Unclean water can lead to recreational water illnesses (RWIs) – diarrhea, respiratory illness, and ear and skin infections. According to the CDC, these illnesses are on the rise. Between 2005 and 2006, 78 outbreaks were reported in 31 states –the largest number of outbreaks ever in a two-year period. Close to 4,500 people were affected.

However, most respondents (63%) are unaware of illnesses associated with contaminated pool water. In fact, less than one quarter consider the frequency of pool cleaning and chemical treatment (23%) and even less (16 %) think about chlorine levels to maintain clean pool water. Remember, using your senses and following the CDC’s six simple swimming steps will help lead to a healthy and fun swimming summer.