Physical Therapy Clinic Expands Aquatic Services

The Telegraph News

Physical Therapy Clinic Expands Aquatic Services
By Kathie Bassett

ALTON – To make greater use of their therapy pool, Alton Physical Therapy added Brianna Overbey, an assistant physical therapist, as the director of aquatics four months ago.

"Any injury that can be treated on land can be treated in the water," Overbey said. "Some patients prefer treatment in the water because movement is easier and there’s less compression on their joints so it feels good, especially to arthritic patients."

A 2008 graduate of Southwestern Illinois College, Overbey, 25, received her Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation Institute Certification by attending a weeklong course in Florida to learn therapy techniques using weights, therabands and flotation devices.

"My favorite is the ’wonder board,’ a v-shaped blue board," she said. "You can do an abs workout sitting on it, you can kneel on it for a stronger workout or you can stand on it to do squats in the water – the board does everything."

Overbey comes to the job with extensive experience from a variety of therapeutic settings, including helping special needs students in the Alton School District and working in a nursing home environment.

While an undergraduate, Overbey worked at Alton Physical Therapy in 2007.

"The atmosphere and the people here are so great," she said. "Everyone here wants to make sure that our patients are well-taken care of so you feel a positive energy when you walk through the door."

While Overbey spends the majority of her time treating patients in water, she also works with clients on the land.

"No one can be a mermaid," she said. "Everyone has to come back on land at some point."

Working closely with the therapists on staff, Overbey receives general directions from them and she designs an individual plan for her patients based on their directions. To receive treatment, patients need to have a doctor’s prescription.

Overbey doesn’t always get in the water alongside her aquatic patients; she sometimes stays on the deck to maneuver the clinic’s cameras so she can see their gait pattern on the underwater treadmill.

"I’ve found that water therapy is effective for overall body conditioning," she said. "I see a real improvement in strength, coordination, balance and range of motion."

Her patients range in age from their early-20s to mid-80s, and the water temperature can be tailored to their individual needs, which can be an important consideration depending on the issue being treated.

"Within a few sessions, I can often notice a difference in how people are walking on land," she said. "It’s very cool."

The pool facility has a private bathroom and shower area that is also handicap-accessible.

For more information on therapy options, call Alton Physical Therapy at (618) 462-1133 or visit www.altonpt.com.

kbassett@thetelegraph.com

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