Aquatic Therapy 101 for the Rehabilitation Therapist

Have you ever wanted to take your client to the pool or have received an aquatic therapy referral and had no idea where to start? Do your clients want to exercise in the water but have only been told to walk in the water?

This workshop is for you! Learn how to effectively use your exercise rehabilitation skills and expertise in the water so that you can grow your caseload and help more clients lead meaningful lives.

You’ll learn to modify your assessments to include aquatic therapy, how to take your clients to community center pools for the first time (including payment, dressing, and water chairs), and how to translate common exercises to the aquatic environment.

Why aquatic therapy?

Benefits for you, the clinician:

• A way to grow your caseload quickly. There is a strong demand for aquatic therapists in the Lower Mainland by doctors and physiotherapists and there are not many people out there that do it.
• You’ll be able to help clients who experience high levels of pain in your dryland gym space, and then progress them to dryland when they are able.
• You can easily incorporate your strength and conditioning knowledge into your aquatic sessions without extensive training.
• It’s fun, creative, keeps you active, and mixes up your workday.

Benefits for your clients:

• Drastically reduces pain and discomfort with moving due to the water’s unique properties.
• For some clients with neuromuscular injuries or disorders being in the water can mean the difference between being a wheelchair user or walking on their own.
• They can benefit from the hot tub for muscle relaxation and pain relief.

Who is this course for?

If you work with ICBC clients, physical rehab clients, chronic pain, chronic/repetitive injuries, neuromuscular injuries/conditions, concussions, arthritis, knee/hip replacements

Any clinician working with the physical body is curious to learn more about expanding their practice to include aquatic therapy or want to know what aquatic therapy is all about.

Course will have a maximum of 10 participants, to make sure there is a lot of hands-on practice and time to ask questions during the practical component.

Course components:

1.5 hours of instruction and hands-on learning in the aquatic environment (Hillcrest Pool)

Video + slide deck resource to watch on your own and keep for future reference (no need to take notes in the pool!)

Location:

Hillcrest Community Center Pool, Meet in Main lobby: 4575 Clancy Loranger Way, Vancouver, BC V5Y 2M4

Price:

Early Bird: $150.00 before Nov 1

Regular Rate Price: $200 after Nov 1

Please note: Registration and payment are required to reserve your place. Cancellations are required before 5 p.m. on Friday, November 1st 2025, for a refund (full price less $30 administration costs).

Course learning materials: All participants will receive a 30 minute video slide deck 5 days before the course. This is required watching prior to the course and will provide an overview to aquatic therapy for the therapist.

Pamela Cochrane, BKin, Practicing Kinesiologist

Pam finished her UBC Kinesiology degree in 2011 and has been a practicing kinesiologist ever since. She has been seeing pool clients since February 2025, primarily post-operative and ICBC. She enjoys the versatility of the water, helping people gain their confidence in movement back, and relaxing in the hot tub. Pam has three young children and found the pool to be a wonderful resource during her pregnancies.

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Host or Publisher Symmetrix Exercise & Rehab