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Underwater treadmill

Application

Underwater treadmills, often known as pool treadmills, are pivotal in addressing the specific needs of patients undergoing water-based rehabilitation. For many patients, pain relief and improved joint mobility are primary concerns, and these treadmills offer a solution. The buoyancy of the water significantly reduces the impact on joints, alleviating pain and facilitating easier movement for those with injuries or mobility challenges. This gentle approach ensures that patients can exercise without exacerbating their conditions, making it an ideal choice for pain management and recovery.

These treadmills, with their conveyor belts submerged in a pool, allow patients to walk or run, harnessing the water’s natural resistance. This setup not only supports a natural gait but also promotes joint flexibility, a crucial aspect of rehabilitation for many. The therapeutic ambiance of water immersion further aids in relaxation, helping to alleviate pain and stress, which can often hinder recovery.

Adjustable speed and resistance settings mean that each session can be precisely tailored to a patient’s individual needs and comfort levels. This patient-centric approach ensures that everyone, from post-operative individuals to those with chronic joint issues, can find relief and regain mobility. Pool treadmills are especially beneficial for those with orthopedic and neurologic conditions, serving as an invaluable tool in their recovery journey. Beyond just rehabilitation, these treadmills also provide a means for patients to regain confidence in their movement, empowering them to lead a more active and pain-free life.

Product information

The underwater treadmill, we believe, is the next step in active rehabilitation. Because of the water’s buoyancy, resistance, and hydrostatic pressure, the patient can begin underwater walking exercises almost immediately.

Our EWAC movable floors can accommodate an integrated underwater treadmill while meeting the highest standards for usability, adjustability, and operational stability. When mobility is critical or you do not have access to one of our floors, we provide a drop-in treadmill. For pools that do not have a movable floor, our drop-in lifting system allows you to change depth while running to provide the best exercise environment.

Knowledge about underwater treadmill

Exercising on an underwater treadmill provides an excellent combination of weight bearing reduction and walking exercises to mobilize otherwise stiff or injured joints.

Aquatic treadmills are the pinnacle of underwater exercise equipment and can be used to treat obesity with minimal impact. Its strict walking rhythm has added value in neurology.

We have the most extensive collection of hydrotherapy publications.

Experience

For over 25 years, EWAC Medical has designed and built movable swimming pool floors and has completed over 1.000 projects worldwide. We are constantly striving for improvement and innovation. Despite the fact that aquatic treadmills are a relatively new development, experience with these products is rapidly growing. Because underwater treadmills can be integrated into any of the current EWAC Medical products, our offering is extremely competitive.

That is why EWAC Medical is world market leader in hydrotherapy.

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More information

Underwater treadmill functionality

Exercising on an underwater treadmill combines the beneficial effects of water with stationary walking exercises. An underwater treadmill transforms the pool into a virtually infinite pool, eliminating the need for the patient to turn at the end. Water has numerous beneficial effects on the rehabilitation process. The buoyancy reduces weight bearing in the legs, making it easier for an injured patient to exercise. At the same time, the warm water makes the ligaments more elastic, increasing range of motion. Additionally, submersion in water reduces pain sensation.

All of these benefits combine to make the underwater treadmill an excellent piece of exercise equipment that can be extremely beneficial for obesity treatment, sports endurance training, and general joint rehabilitation.

The underwater treadmill’s strict rhythm can be very beneficial in treating neurological patients.

By incorporating an underwater treadmill into a movable swimming pool floor, the user can tailor the loading on the patient’s lower extremities to the stage of rehabilitation. Walking exercises at various body loads are possible with a fully integrated underwater treadmill. The parallel bars can be removed, freeing up the entire area of the movable swimming pool floor for other hydrotherapy methods.

The underwater treadmill can be installed in any new pool floor, but it is also ideal for existing EWAC Medical movable swimming pool floors.

EWAC Medical not only provides underwater treadmills, but also actively participates in the acquisition and dissemination of hydrotherapy knowledge. In addition, we are actively involved in the development of new underwater exercise equipment for rehabilitation purposes. This page contains more detailed information about all of the factors that must be considered when using an underwater treadmill.

The proven value of exercising on an underwater treadmill

Exercising on an EWAC Medical underwater treadmill offers a great number of advantages.

Advantage

Result

– Actuated with safe low voltage power drive – Optimal security of patients is guaranteed
– Infinitely adjustable speeds from 0,1 up to 11 km/h – Precise control of exercise intensity
– Slow up and down tuning during start and stop – Pleasurable walking experience
– Patient training program can be stored – Follow progress of the rehabilitation process
– Can be mounted into an existing pool – Added functionality of existing situations
– Can be mounted in a modular pool – Added functionality of existing and new situations
– Can be integrated in an adjustable floor – Adjust for optimal weight loading of the patient
– Can be retrofitted in existing adjustable floors – Increase the possibilities of a current installation
– Flush with deck of adjustable floor – More functionality within the same available space
– Active interaction in the water between patient and therapist – Therapist can actively manipulate the patient during exercises

Overview of our options (see our product configurator)

Underwater camera This special underwater camera enables the therapist to track the movements of the patients, and if necessary record the movements for further analysis. By comparing images from multiple sessions one can get a clear picture of the progress made by the patient.
Counter current unit or Jetstream Countercurrent unit or jetstream. A jetstream offers exercise resistance to the patient moving against the flow. A wall nozzle produces a strong water jet which is aimed at the patient, and depending of the required exercise load, can be softened with air.
Underwater lighting Underwater lighting is highly recommended to improve the sight through, for example, an underwater window. The lighting can be either delivered in monochrome or in colours.
Observation windows Observation windows can be placed in regular pools as well as modular pools. Observation windows enable the therapist to supervise the executions of the patient optimally.

Two types of underwater treadmills

EWAC Medical supplies two different underwater treadmills:

Integrated underwater treadmill in an adjustable pool floor

The built-in underwater treadmill is flush with the adjustable pool floor. The patient’s weight bearing can be adjusted by lowering the adjustable floor. The combination of an underwater treadmill and an adjustable floor provides an excellent exercise environment for children and adults at any stage of rehabilitation.

When the treadmill is not in use, removing the parallel bars allows the entire exercise pool to be used for other underwater exercises.

The underwater treadmill can be installed in any new adjustable pool floor, but it also works well in existing EWAC Medical movable floors.

Drop-in underwater treadmill
The drop-in underwater treadmill is an excellent piece of exercise equipment for existing pools with a fixed depth. The freestanding underwater treadmill can be placed in any position on the pool’s bottom. The underwater treadmill converts the pool into a multi-purpose, low-impact exercise environment. To make room for other underwater exercises, the underwater treadmill can be completely removed from the pool.

It can be used in virtually any existing pool situation and works plug and play. Both underwater treadmills meet the demands set in the ISO-norm 13485.

Technical specifications

Drop-in underwater treadmill Intergrated underwater treadmill
Dimensions – Total L 1540 x B 1040 x H 1740 mm (including handrails) Dimensions – Total L 1750 x B 1200 mm
Dimensions – Training area L 1150 x B 550 mm Dimensions – Training area L 1400 x B 850 mm
Speed capabilties 0,1 – 11.0 km/h Speed capabilities 0,1 – 11.0 km/h
Power supply 16 Amp 220/240 V single phase 50/60Hz Power supply 16 Amp 220/240 V single phase 50/60Hz
Maximum load 500 kg Maximum load 500 kg

 

 

 

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Sub-products:

Physical Therapy pool

What is a Physical Therapy pool? A physical therapy pool, often referred to as a hydrotherapy pool or aquatic therapy pool, is a specially designed …

Integrated underwater treadmill

An underwater treadmill designed to fit perfectly in one of our movable swimming pool floors.

Drop-in underwater treadmill

An underwater treadmill able to be moved in and out of the pool regardless of its environment.

Underwater treadmill lifting system

A lifting system specially designed for the drop-in underwater treadmill to be lowered in any aquatic environment.

Product Videos

Articles

Adegoke (2014) Variation in percentage weight bearing with changes in standing posture during water immersion: implication for clinical practiceChen (2021) Combined effect of hydrotherapy and transcranial direct-current stimulation on children with cerebral palsyMa (2022) Overall treatment effects of aquatic physical therapy in knee osteoarthritis a systematic review and meta-analysisSong (2022) Effects of Aquatic Exercises for Patients with Osteoarthritis Systematic Review with Meta-AnalysisPrins (1999) Aquatic therapy in the rehabilitation of athletic injuriesJung (2018) The influence of water depth on kinematic and spatiotemporal gait parameters during aquatic treadmill walkingJara (2019) Aquatic treadmill walking at three depths of water in people with traumatic brain injuryKwok (2022) The effect of aquatic High Intensity Interval Training on cardiometabolic and physical health markers in women: A systematic review and meta-analysisLambeck (2022) IATF expert opinion Enhancing the quality of aquatic therapy for subacute and chronic stroke patientsPark (2014) The Effect of Underwater Gait Training on Balance Ability of Stroke PatientsGuidelines IOAPT practise Aquatic Therapy in Corona timesFelten-Barentz et al (2018), Patient views regarding the impact of hydrotherapy on critically ill ventilated patients: A qualitative exploration studyChen (2021) Rehabilitation effects of land and water-based aerobic exercise on lung function, dyspnea, and exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)Zotz (2013) Aquatic physical therapy for Parkinson’s diseaseWaller (2017) Effects of high intensity resistance aquatic training on body composition and walking speed in women with mild knee osteoarthritis: a 4-month RCT with 12-month follow-upTaylor (2003) The ventilated patient undergoing hydrotherapy – a case studyMorer (2020) Evaluation of the Feasibility of a Two-Week Course of Aquatic Therapy and Thalassotherapy in a Mild Post-Stroke PopulationCuesta-Vargas (2020) Identification of Tools for the Functional and Subjective Assessment of Patients in an Aquatic Environment A Systematic ReviewGraca (2020) Immediate Effects of Aquatic Therapy on Balance in Older Adults with Upper Limb Dysfunction: An Exploratory StudyChien (2020) Land versus water HIIE (HIIT) effects on muscle oxygenation and physiological parameter responses in postmenopausal women (Scientific Reports by Nature)Hall (2004) Cardiorespiratory responses to aquatic treadmill walking in patients with rheumatoid arthritisDenning (2010) Underwater Treadmill Exercise as a Potential Treatment for Adults With OsteoarthritisRoper (2013) Acute Aquatic Treadmill Exercise Improves Gait and Pain in People With Knee OsteoarthritisBressel (2014) High intensity interval training on aquatic treadmill in adults with osteoarthritis: effect on pain, balance, function and mobilityNiks & ‘t Hoofd (2017) Aquamentia, Introducing a Newly Developed Swimming Intervention for People With DementiaAndrade (2017) Oxygen uptake and body composition after aquatic physical training in women with fibromyalgia; A randomized controlled trialLim (2014) The Influence of Short-term Aquatic Training on Obstacle Crossing in Gait by the ElderlyBarbosa (2014) Effect of Watsu therapy on psychological aspects and quality of life of patients with temporomandibular disorderPérez-de la Cruz (2020) Comparison of Aquatic Therapy vs. Dry Land Therapy to Improve Mobility of Chronic Stroke PatientsHeywood (2018) Force during functional exercises on land and in water in older adults with and without knee osteoarthritis; Implications for rehabilitationAyan (2015): Parkinson systematic reviewFelten-Barentz et al (2015), Feasibility and Safety of Hydrotherapy in Critically Ill Ventilated PatientsBrugghemans (2011) Parkinson gait balance endurance (dutch)Squires Blackwell (2012) relationship of metabolic costs of aquatic treadmill versus land treadmill runningPohl (2003) The physiological responses to running and walking in water at different dephts

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