Aquatic Therapy + Where to Swim in the Central Valley, California

How Aquatic Therapy Works

Here are some of the ways exercising in water can help you recover from injury.

• Water Pressure – reduces swelling, lowers blood pressure
• Water Resistance – provides manageable resistance for all directions of movement, increases flexibility, helps with balance
• Water Warmth – increases blood flow, soothes & relaxes your body
• Water Buoyancy – eases pressure on joints, reduces pain when moving, lowers the risk of a fall

Aquatic Therapy Benefits

Exercising in warm water can benefit you in a number of ways while recovering from pain or injury.

• Improves mobility quicker
• Improves strength without using weights
• Decreases pain while performing exercises
• Improves range of motion and flexibility more effectively
• Allows those with less or no mobility to recover or improve their length

What is Hydrotherapy Used For?

Aquatic therapy is used for a number of physical conditions:

• Arthritis pain
• Lower back pain
• Obesity
• Fibromyalgia
• Stroke, multiple sclerosis, or cerebral palsy
• Joint replacements
• Sports injuries
• Difficulty walking or balancing
• Bone fractures

1. Isometric Abdominals

This exercise helps you build your core muscles, stabilize your back, and lessen your back pain. Position: Sit on a step in the water and straighten your arms all the way out, resting on a kickboard or pool noodle. Steps:

1. Take a deep breath in.
2. Breathe out, like you’re blowing out a candle, while you gently press down on the noodle, so it is 1-3 inches in the water. You should feel your abdominal muscles working.
3. Return to the starting position.

2. Long Arc Quads

This exercise helps you improve your quad control and helps you build the strength and stability needed to stand and walk. Position: Sit on a step in the water. Steps:

1. Activate your thigh muscle as you straighten one knee, extending that leg in front of you.
2. Hold this position for 3-5 seconds.
3. Slowly return to the starting position.

3. Mini-Squats

This exercise helps you with functional, daily activities such as rising from a chair without help. Position: Hold onto a ball or the edge of the pool while in the water. Steps:

1. Move your feet hip-width apart and with your knees over your toes.
2. Bend your knees and hips like you’re going to sit in a chair. Keep your weight on your heels.
3. Activate your glutes as you rise to stand. Use your arms if necessary.

4. Walking in the Pool

This exercise helps improve your cardiovascular endurance while improving joint mobility and decreasing pain. Position: Stand in the pool. Steps:

1. Using a pool noodle to balance.
2. Walk a specific distance in the pool, using the noodle to maintain your balance if necessary.

1. Madera: Centennial Pool Complex

The Centennial Pool Complex at Centennial Park, East 4th Street and Flume Street, includes a wading pool, recreational pool, and diving pool. The general admission fee is $1 per day, with the “Splash Pass” season pass at $40 per pass for ages 12 and under, and $70 per pass for ages 13 and over.

2. Fresno: Frank H. Ball Pool, Mary Ella Brown Pool, Mosqueda Pool

The City of Fresno has three standard community pools: the Frank H. Ball pool at 760 Mayor St., the Mary Ella Brown Pool at 1350 E. Annadale, and the Mosqueda Pool at 4670 E. Butler. The depth on these pools range from 4 feet to 10 feet, and they are open daily for recreational swim in the summer.

3. Sanger: Aquatic Complex

With a main pool that includes a shallow end, deep end, and a 1-meter diving board, along with an Apache water slide and kiddie pool, the City of Sanger’s Aquatic Complex at 730 Recreation Ave. is a great option for your next family outing.

4. Reedley: Reedley High Pool

If you’re a Reedley resident, you can sign up for several water recreational or exercise classes during the summer months at Reedley High School’s pool, 477 Manning Ave.: water aerobics, lap swim, swim lessons, and youth classes.

5. Kingsburg: Crandell Swimming Complex

The Crandell Swim Complex at 1900 18th Ave. in Kingsburg allows public swim from 12 to 4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, for $2.50 per child under 12 years old, and $3 per adult. If you aren’t swimming, you can enter the complex for $2 each. Monthly passes also are available.

6. Hanford: The Plunge

The Plunge at 415 Ford St. in Hanford is a popular local pool destination. In the latter half of the summer, the pool is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 4 p.m. Entry is $3 for adult swimmers, $2 for swimmers aged 6 to 17, and $1 for younger swimmers and all non-swimmers.

7. Tulare: Tulare Western Pool

Public swim periods at the City of Tulare’s Western Pool at 824 W. Maple Ave. are Monday through Saturday from 2:30 to 4 p.m. This pool includes instructional swim programs as well as facility rentals. The fee is $3 for adults and $2 for anyone under 18 years old.

8. Exeter: Wading Pool at City Park

While you may not be able to swim laps at the wading pool in Exeter’s City Park across the street from Lincoln Elementary School, you can definitely perform your hydrotherapy exercises outside of your PRO~PT clinic.

9. Lindsay: Aquatic Center

The City of Lindsay’s pool, along with the rest of the city’s Wellness Center at 860 N. Sequoia, aims to promote a healthier community. Lap swim is available to members of the Wellness Center all summer long.

10. Porterville: City Pool

The City of Porterville boasts a 5,590-square-foot pool facility at 97 N. Park Dr. with a lap swim area, dive tank, diving board, and 137-foot water slide. With admission fees of $2 per person and $1 for children 12 and under, it’s a cool option for a hot summer day.