Aquatic Therapy for Individuals with Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is a diagnosis that has many variables, and the effects can range greatly - from minor to debilitating. Many of the common attributes can be vastly improved through the therapeutic use of water.

We have seen great gains at Lullaby Waters in individuals with Cerebral Palsy. Common attributes we address during our sessions include:

Poor Coordination
The brain has difficulty making connections for functional and purposeful movements, therefore we can utilize the water to help with ease of movement and fluidity of motion. Repetitive swaying and movement within the water can help the brain to make these connections and increase coordinated movement patterns.

Stiff Muscles
Warm water sensation is able to sooth and ease tense muscles, allowing them to relax. We are able to mobilize and comfort simultaneously.

Weak Muscles
Hydrostatic pressure of the water provides pressure to the body, where every movement is met with the resistance of water. This allows the body to increase strength.

Joint Contractures
Mobility and range of motion of joints within the aquatic environment provide unique angles and ability to increase comfort and movement.

Sensation
The body may feel deregulated and have difficulty interpreting sensation typically. Therefore the aquatic environment can provide soothing comfort and pleasant sensations all over that can help to reset and regulate.
Vision/hearing- We can modify the environment to accommodate the individual's needs to make it either alerting or calming through lighting and auditory input. 

Thinking and Reasoning
Problem solving, sequencing tasks and games can be implemented in conjunction with the desired body motions and movement patterns during therapy.

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Soothing the body and allowing for increased regulation of the muscles and joints can improve coordination and movement patterns. Aquatic therapy can help with achieving milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling or walking.

For more information or to inquire about a session, please contact Lullaby Waters at 208-985-5265.

A Peaceful Place

The most important thing to me when opening Lullaby Waters was the environment. I truly believe that in order to get to a point where progress can be made, peace needs to be achieved. I was so passionate about the benefits of water that I wanted to believe strides could be made anywhere. I tried and I tried, but I was wrong.

For nearly two years, I spent every waking minute developing the environment you see today at Lullaby Waters. The pool, the sounds, the visuals – all of it was designed to provide an environment that could be tailored to specific needs, so that anyone could find the progress they were seeking for themselves or their children.

Simply put, the therapeutic environment at Lullaby Waters is something that you will not find anywhere else in Boise. It is a place of peace, where personalized, private sessions take place without the commotion of a public space or community setting. Distractions are minimized, stimuli are eliminated and progress is made.

The Water

Our custom-built pool is kept between 95 and 96 degrees, which is one of the most important components of our facility. The temperature-neutral zone, meaning at body temperature, allows the body to focus on something other than temperature regulation. The receptors for sensation relax without any effort from the individual, providing a pleasant sensation and putting the body at ease, which allows for growth in other areas.

The Sound

Auditory input is unique to each individual. Perception of sound may register high or low, which is why in our one-on-one sessions we modify auditory components to meet specific needs. From complete silence, to quiet music or white noise, individual preferences and what creates an environment built to thrive are what dictate the auditory aspects of sessions at Lullaby Waters.

The Visuals

Studies have documented the calming effect of blue lighting. We utilize a dimmer switch to create desired effects in the room, which includes a ceiling painted as a tranquil night sky. Blue lighting and hues add to visuals designed to induce calm and peace. We sometimes turn off the lights completely, allowing the light within the pool and the blue shimmer of the water guide our sessions. Once you step into our pool, everywhere you look you will find peace.

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In summation, prior to opening Lullaby Waters, there wasn’t a single individual I encountered in therapy that I didn’t think would benefit from an aquatic environment. There are so many things we do out of the water that, when replicated in the water, seemingly increase our gains exponentially. This was my dream, and I truly believe that Lullaby Waters is a place where progress is made through a state of peaceful serenity.

For these and other therapies please contact Lullaby Waters at 208-985-5265

Aquatic Therapy for Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a wonderful time for a woman. It is so exciting to feel a life growing inside you and there are many joys. There is also a lot of stress and change occurring to the woman's body. For some, this may take away from the joyous parts of pregnancy. 

Our therapy is gentle and beneficial, and can help regain the desired focus, creating peace once again and making way for progress and joy.

What does the therapy look and feel like? We gently cradle and float you through warm water and begin to mobilize your joints. We allow the anti-gravity environment to take the stress off of your joints. You begin to settle in to the weightlessness.

We allow the temperature-neutral environment to take away any skin irritation or sensitivities that you may be feeling from growth and expansion. We gently massage any edema, as you are also provided gentle pressure as the water surrounds you, which allows for increased circulation and promotes cardiovascular health.

We help to elongate your body and muscles, teaching your body how to relax and soothe. We are aligning your body, which allows your muscles to find peace in their new positions and increase your stability. We can mobilize and massage to decrease any nerve pain, minimizing discomfort.

After your session your body will feel at peace, and this generally improves mood and ability to sleep.

At Lullaby Waters, we truly believe in our technique, which promotes a healthy and joyous pregnancy. For more information for this and other therapy approaches, call 208-985-5265.

Peace=Progress

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Aquatic Therapy for Anxiety

We all get anxiety at some point in our lives, maybe at some point every single day.

The way we respond to anxiety varies. The way we physically react can also vary, as we often hold tension in our body. For some it is held in the shoulders, neck and jaw; for others it may be the stomach, back or a combination of the two. What we are feeling mentally and emotionally is transpired physically.

Often children with a diagnosis are working extra hard because they may not quite fit in socially, mentally or physically, and their bodies are also carrying this burden. Often children and adults may not know what calm is, or how to get there.

So what do we do? How do we help?

We create a warm and soothing, temperature-neutral environment for them.

A temperature-neutral environment is created at Lullaby Waters by keeping the water at body temperature. The tactile sensory receptors of the body cannot determine where the body ends and the water begins, therefore the receptors are able to stop working and relax. The hydrostatic pressure created by the water against the body gives gentle compression (proprioceptive input) which acts like a gentle, all-over hug. The body stops holding tension physically and the muscles relax. We are able to rock and sway, allowing the body to continually feel calm and peaceful while also mobilizing and stretching the joints that have been working so hard.

We whisper to the child, "This is what calm feels like," and they have a physical reference to draw from going forward. We continue creating these scenarios to help reduce tension and anxiety. We play games to create movement patterns that we want to achieve out of the water, because now the child will feel without tension, creating a positive association. We create tasks that they have to cognitively process, because now they are not thinking about their body and discomfort and are able to process this information.

We are creating a positive experience physically, emotionally and socially to reduce anxiety and allow for higher-functioning cognitive processes to occur. We are decreasing and eliminating anxiety, because at Lullaby Waters we truly believe that Peace=Progress.

For this and other therapy services please check out our website at www.lullabywaters.com and give us a call at: 208-985-5265

Bonding Sessions

At Lullaby Waters, we believe that there is no greater attachment to be shared than the bond between parent and child. Sometimes creating this secure bond isn't easy for a multitude of reasons.

Our goal is to take you back to the beginning, to help you create a secure bond in which your child feels secure. This is developed by letting them know they are safe, and that their needs will be met.

The most important beginning is having a regulated nervous system. We can implement a variety of techniques within the aquatic environment to help with this regulation. We can teach you, as the parent, to be the facilitator, which will contribute to the bonding process.

We will also begin by helping you, as the parent, to feel relaxed, which is also the beginning of bonding because your child is looking to you for guidance.

Our warm, gentle, quiet environment can imitate the security and comfort of the womb that your child was once accustomed to.

Once the nervous system is regulated, your child is ready to experience senses in a positive manner and able to learn and explore the world.

The next step is helping you read your child's cues. Everything they do is expressing something to you, through looks, movements and babbles. We will help you interpret these meanings, and help you to meet their needs.

This regulation and secure bond will foster increased intelligence, confidence, happiness and growth for your child.

It will create a sense of peace for you, because your child will become more predictable as you are able to understand them and read their cues.

Let us help you foster this partnership for you and your child.
Who can benefit:
- Parents feeling a lack of connection to their child
- Parent is at a loss for how to help their child
- Child demonstrates frequent fear or insecurities
- Child avoids eye contact
- Child doesn't smile
- Child doesn't reach out to be picked up
- Child rejects your efforts to calm and sooth, and connect
- Child doesn't seem to notice or care when you leave or are gone
- Child cries inconsolably
- Child doesn't coo or make sounds
- Child doesn't follow you with their eyes
- Child isn't interested in playing or interacting with toys
- Child spends a lot of time rocking or trying to comfort themselves

For more information regarding these, and other services, provided by Lullaby Waters, call (208) 985-5265 or visit LullabyWaters.com.

Aquatic Therapy Can Help with Feeding Issues

Generally when there are feeding issues, they are either the result of structural issues, sensory issues or a combination of both. Aquatic therapy is beneficial to helping with these issues for the following reasons:

Structural Issues
The mechanics of muscle coordination needed for sucking or chewing/breathing/swallowing are quite complex and involve many phases of movement and functioning. When immersed in water, the body naturally elongates the neck for increased ability to breath. This elongation for holding the head above water is strengthening the same muscles needed for swallowing. There is also increased pressure against the chest from the water, which increases endurance for breathing. With the use of balance boards and positioning, core strengthening is also occurring in the water, which can aid with increased ability and comfort for the digestive process.

Chewing/Sucking Muscles
Strengthening and gaining coordination in the water is viewed as play, and is therefore fun. Here are some of the techniques utilized for different muscles:

Orbicularis Oris (lips)...strengthen through bubble blowing and making puffer fish faces.
Buccinator (cheeks)...smiley faces, kissy faces, puffer fish faces.
Genioglossis (muscle from chin to tongue)...sticking out tongue, pretending to be frogs on a lily pad.
Styloglossis (enables cupping of the tongue)...tongue exercises, pretending to be frogs.
Palatopharyngeus (soft palate)...naturally strengthens by positioning in water to elevate head above the water.
Temporalis (elevates and retracts the jaw)...alligator and hippo play, pretending to chomp.

Sensory Issues
Often tactile defensiveness contributes to difficulty with eating. If the body does not feel good and is not interpreting stimuli in a positive manner, then the defenses go up and the child is no longer interested in feeding in regards to touch, smell, or taste.

By being immersed in warm, pleasant water with comforting and supportive positioning by your therapist, the tactile senses are able to have positive comforting input. The body can begin to desensitize over time, allowing for more positive input. This is teaching the brain that it can relax.

Once this positive, calm state has been reached, it is the ideal time to focus on feeding as the brain and body are in a low alert state and more accepting of new stimuli. Providing a feeding session following an aquatic session is the ideal time to maintain positive exploration.

Increased body comfort can also contribute to increased weight gain.

For more information regarding these, and other services, provided by Lullaby Waters, call (208) 985-5265 or visit LullabyWaters.com.

Aquatic Therapy for Children with Down Syndrome

As with any diagnosis, there can be many variations of down syndrome traits. Some common traits that can be focused on and improved through aquatic therapy include the following:

Low Muscle Tone - Water offers increased awareness of the body. The water encompasses the body and adds resistance. This gives the brain more information than it typically receives when moving on land. Providing the brain with this information can increase neuromuscular coordination, and the resistance of water can improve strength, therefore increasing muscle tone and improving movements.

Short Attention Span - A child's brain is continually focusing on a multitude of things, including body awareness and cognitive processing. As we master tasks it takes less effort for the brain to complete them and they become repetitive, allowing us to focus on new things for a longer duration.
When immersed in the pool the aquatic environment provides increased input which improves body awareness. This takes away one of the pieces that the brain is trying to focus on, and the child can then focus on cognitive tasks.

Impulsive Behavior - Water is calming. Therapies will focus on achieving and maintaining the "just right" state of calm and awareness. Once achieved, focus can be turned toward increasing awareness and problem-solving skills

Oral Motor Control - The body's natural response to being in the water is to increase posture for better breathing ability and movement. These natural tendencies will increase strength to the neck and oral motor muscles. The therapist can then facilitate desired motions of oral structures for increased coordination and function.

Cardiovascular Difficulties - By being immersed in water up to the chest, the body is building endurance for cardiovascular processes. This is a gentle way to increase strength for the heart and lungs.