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Hasbro Children's Hospital Installs SwimEx® Aquatic Therapy Pool at New Outpatient Rehabilitation Services Facility -- Only pool of its kind in region provides adjustable current, depth and temperature for children recovering from surgery or suffering from muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, spina bifida and other neuromuscular diseases Fall River, MA -- Hasbro Children's Hospital has installed a SwimEx® 1000P Pediatric Aquatic Therapy Pool at its new Outpatient Rehabilitation Services facility in Providence, RI. Aquatic therapy is especially useful for children who have undergone surgery or have suffered acute injuries, as the water decreases stress on the joints. It is also a very successful therapy for children with muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, spina bifida and other neuromuscular diseases. The new facility occupies 12,000 square feet of space and is expected to handle over 10,000 outpatient visits per year. Using aquatic therapy and training for all types of orthopedic injuries allows the injured body part to actively "rest" while the person maintains fitness levels and discovers rapid gains in the critical early stages of the healing and rehabilitative process. Due to the buoyancy of water, patients in the initial stages of rehab can begin therapy sooner and progress faster. Aquatic therapy results can be measured as patients graduate to progressive weight-bearing protocols using increasing water resistance. Aquatic therapy treatment can extend into a full range of training and conditioning. Of their new SwimEx pool, Clinical Services Manager Kristen Montgomery said, "We went from something roughly 12' x 12', all one level (about 3 1/2'), and with no real current to a larger pool that has a current you can increase or decrease depending on the ability of the child, and a number of different depth levels and workstations so we can vary our treatments. The parents and kids just love it." The SwimEx 1000P at Hasbro is the largest therapeutic pool in the SwimEx line and is the only one of its kind available in the region. With a water surface area of 10' x 18', the 1000P allows for safe accommodation of up to 8 adult-sized patients for group therapy, but can also accommodate individuals. Like all SwimEx pools, the 1000P features adjustable depth and temperature, and a proprietary paddle wheel propulsion system which generates a smooth laminar current flow which can be adjusted to over 99 settings. The result is controllable water resistance against which users can exercise, run or swim. In the 1000P model the current flows only on one side of the pool, with still water available for other therapeutic activities on the other. Varying water depths of three, four and five feet can be coupled with a six-foot deepwater well to treat patients of varying heights and sizes. Isokinetic workstations, including an upper extremity exercise bench and an angled running pad (wide enough to allow two patients to run simultaneously) allow physical therapists, trainers or physicians to individually tailor the hydro environment. Built-in stairs provide easy navigation for patients with lower extremity injuries. Underwater windows allow observation and documentation of patient progress, and a programmable monitoring system measures the pool's current and displays elapsed time, stop and repeat modes. A video camera can be clipped to the viewing windows to record progress. Additional features include hydrotherapy jets and a heart rate monitor. "Our kids love the warm water," said Montgomery. "They think they're playing, but we are able to work with them as they work against the current. We can have a number of children in the pool at the same time and they can interact with each other. They have a great time, and the therapists love working with them." Hasbro Children's Hospital, the pediatric division of Rhode Island Hospital, is the premier pediatric facility for southeastern New England. Hasbro (http://www.lifespan.org/hch/) is home to the region's first fetal surgery program; the hospital has the area's only pediatric intensive care unit, emergency department and diagnostic imaging center specifically for children. Hasbro physicians specialize in pediatric cancer and cardiac programs, and the hospital's surgical units are designed specifically for patients ranging in age from newborn to 18 years. Each year, the hospital cares for more than 6,000 inpatients; 63,000 outpatients; and an additional 42,000 patients in its pediatric emergency department. Hasbro Children's Hospital is a member of the Lifespan health system. SwimEx has been a pioneer in the development of fiberglass swim spas--or current pools--for aquatic therapy and training since the development of its unique paddlewheel propulsion system in 1984. Designed to meet the aquatic exercise needs of health professionals, athletic trainers, physical therapists and homeowners, SwimEx pools are used by professional and collegiate athletic programs, as well as health clubs, physical therapists and fitness-minded homeowners around the world. SwimEx aquatic therapy and sports conditioning pools feature adjustable current speed and water temperature, and decorative finish options, as well as a wide range of plyometric accessories. For additional information, contact: Photo Caption << SwimEx1000P_Pool.jpg >> Photo Caption << SwimEx1000P_Pediatric.jpg >> ref: SWM8161.0807 |
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