MARQUETTE -- It's the only pool of its kind in the U.P. At 94 degrees and equipped with a treadmill and resistance jets, the Hydroworx pool is used only for therapy.
Aquatic therapy is ideal for patients with knee, back, hip, or shoulder problems, and a lot is covered in a 45-minute session.
"We try working on strength. We try working on balance. We try working on range of motion. We try utilizing the warm environment as well as the hydrostatic benefits of water for swelling control and pain modulation," says U.P. Rehab Services Physical Therapist Terry Tripp.
Aquatic therapy is also a great option for athletes who need to recover quickly while staying in shape.
"Certainly with the treadmill in there, the ability to work hard with their cardiovascular system and then using the resistance of the water to work on their strength and endurance," explains Physical Therapist Brad Jackson.
Tracy Lokken has been attending aqua therapy for three weeks. The marathon runner is recovering from a repaired meniscus. So far, he says, he's made a speedy recovery.
"I'm walking--almost back to 100 percent walking--and I'm actually doing some running on the treadmill. I attest most of it to aquatic therapy," says Lokken.
The good news: if you're interested in receiving aquatic therapy, most insurance companies will cover it as part of physical therapy.