A movable‑floor hydrotherapy pool is most valuable for patients who cannot yet tolerate full weight‑bearing, need finely graded loading, or require high safety and access: early post‑operative orthopedics, painful OA, neurological gait and balance problems, frail geriatric patients, and high‑level athletes needing low‑impact but specific gait and strength work. (https://www.ewacmedical.com/many-advantages-of-a-movable-pool-floor-with-underwater-treadmill/)
In practice
For therapists, the key advantage of a movable floor is precise control over effective body weight. You can start a patient in deeper water to reduce joint loading, then progressively raise the floor as pain, confidence, and strength improve. This makes it ideal for knee or hip OA, post‑TKA/THA, ACL reconstruction, and low‑back pain where land loading is initially poorly tolerated. (https://www.ewacmedical.com/benefits-of-the-aquatic-treadmill-exercise-in-orthopedic-patients-in-five-articles/)
In neurorehabilitation and geriatrics, adjustable depth allows early standing and stepping in a safer, slower, more buoyant environment, decreasing fall risk while still stimulating balance and postural control. The same system can later support higher‑intensity sports rehab in a shallower, more challenging setting, so one pool services multiple patient groups. (https://www.ewacmedical.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Stanciu-2024-Evidence-of-Improvement-of-Lower-Limb-Functioning-Using-Hydrotherapy-on-Spinal-Cord-Injury-Patients.pdf)
EWAC Medical references
– “Many advantages of a movable pool floor with underwater treadmill” – advantages of tailoring depth to therapy needs; one pool serving several target groups. (https://www.ewacmedical.com/many-advantages-of-a-movable-pool-floor-with-underwater-treadmill/)]
– EWAC knowledge summary “Scientific Evidence-Based Effects of Hydrotherapy on Various Systems of the Body” (Mooventhan 2014) – outlines broad systemic benefits that underpin use in multiple populations. (https://www.ewacmedical.com/knowledge/mooventhan-2014-scientific-evidence-based-effects-of-hydrotherapy-on-various-systems-of-the-body/)]
– EWAC article on aquatic treadmill exercise for orthopedic patients – emphasizes depth control for joint‑load management. (https://www.ewacmedical.com/benefits-of-the-aquatic-treadmill-exercise-in-orthopedic-patients-in-five-articles/)]
External scientific references
– Aquatic exercise meta‑analysis in osteoarthritis: moderate pain reduction and functional gains vs control and land exercise, supporting use where land loading is problematic. (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8955208/)]
– Stanciu 2023 review on hydrotherapy in spinal cord injury: improved lower‑limb function and reduced spasticity, supporting neuro use. (https://www.ewacmedical.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Stanciu-2024-Evidence-of-Improvement-of-Lower-Limb-Functioning-Using-Hydrotherapy-on-Spinal-Cord-Injury-Patients.pdf)]
– Mooventhan & Nivethitha 2014: systemic cardiovascular and musculoskeletal benefits of hydrotherapy across diagnoses. (https://www.ewacmedical.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Mooventhan-2014-SR-AT-scientific-evidence.pdf)