The WaterWell® Benefits: Weight Management
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Being overweight is a common condition, and the number of Americans who weigh more than they should has grown substantially in the past 40 years. A healthy body requires a minimum amount of fat to function properly. But being overweight is generally defined as having more body fat than is optimally healthy, and nearly 64% of the United States adult population is considered overweight or obese. The accumulation of too much fat can impair movement and flexibility, and can alter the appearance of the body. More importantly, being overweight can increase the risk of many diseases and health conditions, including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, many forms of cancer, hypertension, stroke, liver and gallbladder disease, sleep apnea and respiratory problems. The generally recommended treatment for being overweight is a modified or controlled diet in conjunction with increased physical exercise.
How does the WaterWell’s unique in-home aquatic therapy benefit someone who is overweight? When a person is overweight, exercise becomes that much more difficult and, sometimes, uncomfortable. The WaterWell helps eliminate these two factors, because the buoyancy of water helps support each person’s weight no matter how much he or she may weigh. In aquatic therapy, overweight people can stretch and strengthen weakened arms and legs within their full range of motion – without putting more stress on their joints or limbs. While standing in a WaterWell, overweight individuals can also use the weight of water to help correct problems in gait and balance, with considerable less effort and risk of injury than they would experience if they exercised on land. Water also offers 12 times more resistance than air, so individuals work harder and use up more calories exercising in water than on land.
With the WaterWell’s aquatic therapy opportunities, overweight individuals can:
- Improve muscle strength and tone
- Increase cardiovascular function, circulation and endurance
- Reduce stress
- Increased range of motion, flexibility, balance and coordination
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