Obstacle course

Application

An aquatic obstacle course is a specialized piece of equipment that is used in water-based rehabilitation to provide a fun and challenging workout for patients. It is designed to help patients improve their strength, endurance, balance and coordination.

An aquatic obstacle course typically consists of a series of obstacles, such as hurdles, reaching poles, balance beams and wiggle boards that patients must navigate through while in the water. These obstacles can be adjusted in terms of difficulty and distance to match the abilities of each patient.

The buoyancy of the water reduces stress on the joints and spine, making it an ideal option for patients with injuries or mobility issues. The resistance of the water provides a challenging workout that helps to improve cardiovascular fitness, muscle tone and overall fitness.

An aquatic obstacle course can also be used to help patients improve their balance and coordination. The water provides a stable and secure environment for patients to practice navigating through the obstacles, which can help to improve overall balance and stability.

Additionally, an aquatic obstacle course can be used for patients who are recovering from injuries or surgeries, for example, to help improve range of motion, flexibility, and muscle strength. It also can be used for patients with chronic conditions such as arthritis, or in sports training and fitness.

Overall, an aquatic obstacle course is a versatile and effective tool for water-based rehabilitation, helping patients to improve their strength, endurance, balance, and coordination in a fun and challenging way. It provides a workout that can be customized to suit the needs and abilities of each patient.

Our obstacle course

The obstacle course has been developed to train and restore balance, which can be easily done in a pool due to the hydraulic properties of water. All the components have a specific function in fall prevention training.

The obstacle course contains hurdles of variable height, balance beams a balance board and a reaching pole.

Knowledge

Fall prevention training is a hot item in an aging population, where Parkinson is on the increase and many patients need to regain their balance after prolonged periods of bedrest or after surgery. Patients must experience slightly losing their balance while passing an obstacle. The water slows down the process, giving the patient ample time to restore balance. This way, slowly balance can be regained.

Experience

EWAC Medical has been designing and building moveable floors for over 25 years and has successfully finished more than 1.000 projects worldwide. We continually work on improvement and innovation, the obstacle course being an excellent example.

Since 2006, the obstacle course is used in Kliniken Valens in Switzerland on a daily basis. This is just one of the examples of intensive use of these exercise materials.

Follow this link for a document on the exercise possibilities with an EWAC Medical obstacle course

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In-depth information

Balance training in a safe environment

This unique development allows you to create an “exercise room” under water. The obstacle course facilitates coordination and balance training at a very early stage of rehabilitation. The hydraulic of the water greatly increases the critical reaction time.

Water provides a safe environment to practise because it is free of risk in case the patient loses balance. This provides exactly the right circumstances for practise sessions to train the anticipating and responding mechanisms of balance.

By varying the depth of the water by means of the movable floor pool, one is able to adapt to the individual capabilities of individual patients.

	Hurdle The one meter wide hurdles are available in three different heights (25, 32 and 40 cm). They can also be set in a slanted position. When a hurdle is knocked over, it automatically re-erects itself.
	Balance beam The balance beam is three meters in length and can be used both on the wide side (10 cm) as on the narrow side (5 cm). This facilitates two exercise difficulty levels.
	Balance board The balance board rotates and slides during the exercise. In spite of this combined movement, the board provides sufficient stability to be used at an early stage.
	Reaching pole Reaching pole, adjustable from 160-210 cm. Suitable to practise hanging a coat and reaching for high places.For more information and documention, please contact EWAC Medical.

EWAC Medical not only supplies obstacle courses, but also makes an active contribution to the acquisition and distribution of knowledge about hydrotherapy. On this page you will find more in-depth information on all aspects of the use of an obstacle course in rehabilitation.

Fall prevention is an important topic for the geriatric population as well as for patients with neurological, rheumatic or orthopaedic conditions. One approach to train strategies and mechanisms for fall reduction is the obstacle course.

An obstacle course first was described in literature by K. Mead in 1996 and more recently by H. Rijken in 2004. These courses mimic obstacles that one meets in daily living situations, both inside and outside. They also can include cognitive challenges at the same time, like carrying a tray with glasses, listening to a story and memorize the amount that a specific word is mentioned etc.

An obstacle course in water tries to follow the above mentioned idea. The pool offers restrictions (it’s not a real daily living situation), but also offers advantages. The pool is a safe exercise environment and loss of balance does not result in falling that easily. Patients therefore are more ready to increase range of motion, to reduce the use of the hands etc, Literature has shown that indeed training of balance during stance and walking in a pool increases balance and walking variables on dry land as well.

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Methods

Target Groups

Product Videos

Articles

Felten-Barentz et al (2018), Patient views regarding the impact of hydrotherapy on critically ill ventilated patients: A qualitative exploration studyWaller (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-upWegner (2017) Hydrotherapy for a long term ventilated patient – A case study and implications for practiceMorer (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 ReviewYoshihara (2020) Pool walking may improve renal function by suppressing the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in healthy pregnant womenGraca (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)Hamacher (2018) Thinking While Moving or Moving While Thinking – Concepts of Motor-Cognitive Training for Cognitive Performance EnhancementNiks & ‘t Hoofd (2017) Aquamentia, Introducing a Newly Developed Swimming Intervention for People With DementiaPérez-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 rehabilitationPérez de la Cruz (2017) Effectiveness of aquatic therapy for the control of pain and increased functionality in people with Parkinson’s disease; A randomized clinical trialAyan (2015): Parkinson systematic reviewBonnyman (2011) Assessment of Bone Geometry in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis of the Spine Before and After a 6 Month Aquatic Exercise ProgramBilberg (2005) Moderately intensive exercise in a temperate pool for patients with rheumatoid arthritis- a randomized controlled study.Assis (2006), A randomised controlled trial of deep water running clinical effectiveness of aquatic excercise to treat fibromyalgiaAlikahajeh A (2012) Effects of hydrotherapy in static and dynamic balance amoung elderly menAlbarello P (2012) Efeitos da Fisioterapia Aquática em um indivíduo com Síndrome Pós-Pólio Relato de CasoTeixeira (2007) Influence of Ai Chi on balance and fear of falling on older adults (portuguese)Gomes (2009) The beneficial effects of aquatic therapy on balance in the elderly and on fall prevention (Portuguese)Arnold (2010) The Effect of Aquatic Exercise and Education on Lowering Fall Risk in Older Adults With Hip OsteoarthritisLambeck and Gamper (2006) The EWAC obstacle course in fall prevention

Brochures

Brochure Drop-in Underwater Treadmill (EN)Brochure Exercise-, play- and floatmaterials (EN)Brochure Underwater treadmill Lifting System (EN)Brochure Underwater Bicycle (EN)Corporate Brochure EWAC Medical (EN)Brochure Pooltrack Curve (EN)Brochure Underwater Treadmill (EN)Brochure Modular pool (EN)Brochure movable swimming pool floor (EN)

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Obstacle course

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Our obstacle course

Knowledge