Facilitation Technique Category: Therapeutic use of sports

Activity Title: Backstroke swimming for people with double arm amputees
Source: IPC swimming Media Guide. (2016). Retrieved September 14, 2016, from

https://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/document/160914113534354_Swimmimg_Media
+Guide_accessible2.pdf
Equipment: Pool, towels and lane dividers
Activity Description: Swimming is an enjoyable cardiovascular sport that requires strength, coordination
and regular lung function. Back stroke swimming as a sport it entails swimming face up for 100 meters
on a 50 meter long pool. It is important that the participant has previous swimming experience even if it
was prior amputations. The participant should be able to float and swim in the water without assistance
and feel comfortable turning and swimming underwater. For this sport a swimming instructor, a CTR
and a life guard should be present. With assistance, the participant will enter the pool and swim to the
starting line facing the pool wall. Since an abled body person would normally have both hands on the
bar at the wall the participant will compensate for this by biting down in one end of a towel, the towel
will held be held by his assistant on the other end, this maintains the participant on the starting position
with both feet on the wall. Since the participant had both arms amputated he will obviously not be able
to perform an actual backstroke so he will compensate by using the dolphin kick while facing up. The
dolphin kick consist of moving the body like a wave starting from the torso all the way down to the toes.
The participant will swim 100 meters as fast as possible while staying in this lane.

Leadership Consideration: As stated before, it is important for the participant to be and independent
swimmer but of course for safety purposes a lifeguard should be present at all times. The CTRS will make
sure adaptations are used properly for the participant; the swimming instructor will use demonstration,
verbal and tactile cues to facilitate the proper use of the dolphin kick and any other swimming
strategies.
Adaptations: For the vision impaired participant the only adaptation needed is the tapping technique.
Using a long wand with a rubber ball attached at the end a designated person called the tapper taps

the participant on the head as a signal that he has reached the end of the pool, another tap is also used
at the end of the race.

Adaptations: For a person with paraplegia using the backstroke for swimming may be more difficult as
it may increase lordosis and place more challenge in the fact that some lower abdominal muscles may
be paralyzed. Before the start of the race the participant is lowered into the water, he will then place
himself on his back, this is when the assigned person will grab his feet to help him float, this is the
starting position. Once the race begins the participant will use the backstroke by doing the same
movement with both arms at the same time rather than alternating left and right, this is to be done in
order to maintain the lower body a float.

Adaptation References:

How to do a dolphin kick [Video file]. (2009). USA: Livestrong. Retrieved September 14, 2016,
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tiEzoSfFXY.
https://books.google.com/books?id=cCzvCQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r
&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Facilitation Technique Category: Aquatic Therapy

Activity Title: Pool Dance Party

Source: Laban, N. (Director). (n.d.). JK Aqua Zumba Pool Party [Video file]. USA. Retrieved

September 20, 2016, from https://youtu.be/ddAc7QQ0F1M.

Equipment: Heated pool, towels, non-slip pool shoes, music, beach balls, and drinking water for
hydration.
Activity Description: Exercising in a heated pool in beneficial to gain strength, improve mobility and the
warmth of the water helps reduce pain while exercising. The buoyancy of the water reduces the effects
of gravity; this gives a huge advantage to those who have trouble standing because of pain or weakness.
Pool dance party is a fun activity that can be performed with any type of disability, older children, adults
and the elderly population. Once inside the pool, a group of 10 -15 clients will dance to the beat of the
music while following the choreography of a pool instructor and tossing the balls around the water. The
activity will last 30 minutes and the instructor will provide drinking breaks for hydration. It is important
that every participant has proper shoe-wear and immediately dry themselves after exiting the pool to
avoid any falls.
Leadership Consideration: The CTRS needs to be certified in aquatics in order to perform this activity.
Some volunteers and assistants may be needed to ensure the safety of the clients during the activity,
also for entering and exiting the pool.
Adaptations for highly functional clients with hemiplegia due to a stroke: These clients are able to
stand with assistance but have impaired balance and movement on the affected side. The use of a pool
access lift may be necessary for those clients who are not able to safely use the pool steps. In addition, a
group of people moving in the water may create waves; this may challenge a persons balance therefore
a floating device need to be worn around the neck for safety.
Adaptations for the elderly clients with Osteoarthritis: These clients may also need to use the pool
access lift due to the pain and lack for motion they may have from osteoarthritis. A combination of slow
and fast rhythms is also necessary to avoid over fatigue.
Adaptation References:

Cole, A. J., & Becker, B. E. (n.d.). Pool Therapy to Relieve Osteoarthitis Pain. Retrieved
September 21, 2016, from http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/pool-therapy-relieveosteoarthritis-pain
Stroke Patient Increases Mobility with Aquatic therapy. (2016). Retrieved September 20, 2016,
from https://www.hydroworx.com/blog/stroke-patient-increases-mobility-with-aquatic-therapy/