Water Specific Therapy & Bad Ragaz Ring Method Courses in Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury

Bad Ragaz Ring Method

Number of applicants: 12

Applicants:      As this is an advanced course, places will be given to applicants who have previously attended an ATACP Intermediate course (either Musculoskeletal or Neurological) and who have several years of aquatic physiotherapy experience. When applying please write a brief paragraph summarising your aquatic therapy experience.

Apply to: julie.dixon26@nhs.net

Description:    The Bad Ragaz Ring Method has a long history of adaptations to the state of the art in aquatic proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation. Originally based on PNF, fluid-mechanical elements were added to adapt it for aquatic therapy. The key element is the activation of muscles in myofascial chains as a preparation for functional activities in water and on land. Recently, principles of muscular fine tuning, PNF techniques, and training physiology have been included. Also, concepts like functional kinetics and core stabilization are part of contemporary BRRM and are applied to working with neurological, orthopaedic, and rheumatic populations. See www.badragazringmethod.org

Objectives:      At the completion of this module participants will be able to:

☑ Use the original arm, trunk and leg patterns

☑ Relate the patterns to principles from PNF, fascia training, exercise physiology and fluid mechanics

☑ Use PNF techniques (e.g. hold relax, combination of isotonics, dynamic reversals) and fine tuning in selected patterns

☑ Use principles from clinical reasoning to use BRRM in various patient populations

☑ Adapt patterns and techniques to the specific problems of patients

☑ Design treatment programs and progressions

Water Specific Therapy

Applicants:      As this is an advanced course, places will be given to applicants who have previously attended an ATACP Intermediate course (either Musculoskeletal or Neurological) and who have several years of aquatic physiotherapy experience. When applying please write a brief paragraph summarising your aquatic therapy experience.

Apply to: julie.dixon26@nhs.net

Description:    Water Specific Therapy (WST) – previously known as Halliwick-therapy - is the aquatic therapy concept worldwide, included in more than 60 published research articles, see at https://www.halliwick.net/en/literature/articles. WST covers virtually all neuromusculoskeletal ICF-goals including one of the most important topics in rehabilitation: postural control. WST ranges from muscle strengthening, increasing range of motion, decreasing pain to core stability, agility and fall prevention. WST can be used to evoke subtle muscle contractions that are unable to be generated on land. WST is applied from paediatrics to geriatrics and has been taught in over 50 countries.

It is an aquatic therapy with elements of the Halliwick 10 point-programme swimming method that are used as pretraining for exercises that use the fluid mechanical properties of water: flow conditions (turbulence), waves of transmission and metacentric effects (using the change of gravity and buoyancy induced torques). WST = motor learning in water to be used on land, whereas Halliwick = motor learning in water to be used in water.

WST was developed by a team of physiotherapists in Switzerland in the early seventies, supporting James McMillan in his efforts to develop Halliwick towards a “Halliwick-Therapy”. The development continues, following contemporary issues in health care. Examples are executive functions, muscle power training or modifying neuroinflammation.

Objectives:      At the completion of this module participants will be able to:

☑ Describe the fluid mechanical principles of WST

☑ Relate aquatic therapy to the concept of evidence informed practice and to ICF

☑ Recognize equilibrium problems of able-bodied and disabled persons

☑ Handle people in water effectively

☑ Apply the WST exercises and activities for the neuromusculoskeletal patient population in all domains of ICF

☑ Use the appropriate rules of motor learning and tissue training in water to design a treatment program

☑ Include ideas for neuroprotection and executive functions

☑ Design treatments programs for neuromusculoskeletal patients

☑ Use the WST-ICF assessment in water

☑ Use basic clinimetrics and use balance assessment on land