Background

• Aquatic therapy is not standardly provided for palliative patients;

• A hydrotherapy pool provides a warm supportive environment for painful deconditioned bodies during or after medical treatment;

• Provides an opportunity to move, strengthen, relax and participate with significant effect on emotional well–being;

• Extends patient opportunities to therapies outside medical treatment, putting patients back in control.

Aims To evaluate the provision of aquatic therapy (therapist-led hydrotherapy) for palliative patients by comparing objective measures and goals pre- and post- treatment

• Provide therapist–led aquatic therapy;

• Nurture and empower patients to become independent pool users.

Method Assess and work with palliative adult patients delivering aquatic therapy in 1:1 or group settings.

• Identify patient goals, physical baseline of ability including a range of standardised physical objective measures, patient perception of issues and well–being;

• 1:1 water–based assessment explores;

  • patient ability to exercise in water

  • water confidence

  • trial personalised exercises and develop own written programme

• <6 further sessions of aquatic therapy 1:1, group or combination;

• Patient feedback questionnaire completed.

Results Data collected from all patients who completed a course of aquatic therapy, average duration two months.

• 100% improved physical function;

• 83% improved emotional well–being;

• 92% continued as independent pool users.

Conclusion Aquatic therapy can have a very positive, significant effect for patients affecting their physical function, willingness and motivation for exercise through their own perception of improvement, and emotional well-being. Relatively simple, short periods of interaction by a therapist can have meaningful long-term benefits for palliative adult patients for both physical outcomes and emotional well-being.

Innovation

• Currently no standardised use of aquatic therapy study demonstrates very positive outcomes for palliative patients including their perception, improved physical changes and function;

• Emphasis to empower patients with independent pool sessions in addition to attending a therapist–led session;

• Patients feel they are doing something to help themselves, which they find rewarding and motivating.