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COURSES

CARI offers courses to Rehab professionals in basic and advanced aquatic physical therapy to address all clients therapeutic goals.  CARI is able to tailor the aquatic instruction to Rehabilitation facilities, staff and patient population needs. The courses include theory and practice of aquatic therapy techniques, the latest research, use of outcome measures and the development of effective, evidence-based, sustainable programming.

  • If you are interested in a specific course presently not on offer, please connect with us. 

  • If you have a pool that would accommodate a course, please let us know and we can inquire further regarding access/rental.

  • If you have a warm water therapy pool and interested in hosting a course, please connect to explore this possibility; advantages include tailoring programs to your patients, advancing your staff, and engaging your community.

Foundational Aquatic Therapy Online Theory Course

Part 1, Click here

 CARI, is excited to provide a 50 minute, free, online course that covers the basics of hydrodynamics, applied to rehabilitation. It is offered through Embodia, Canada's largest online continuing education platform for physiotherapists and rehabilitation practitioners. Part 1 is a prerequisite to Part 2 of Foundational Aquatic Therapy - which explores evidence-based practice and provides 4 hours of in-pool practice. 

Embodia offers a few free courses for all healthcare professionals including the Foundational Aquatic Therapy course. Embodia is a subscription service dedicated to the scholarly practice of PT; sharing the wealth of our Canadian experts and addressing the multi-faceted approach to effective physiotherapy. I encourage you to sign up and consider subscribing to get the most out of your Embodia experience. Contact support@embodiaapp.com for more information.

UPCOMING & CURRENT 

COURSE OFFERINGS

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Aquatic Therapy Courses in Saint John, NB

June 24, 25, 26, 2023

 

Hosted by the Canada Games Aquatic Centre, 50 Union St., Saint John, NB

Friday, June 23, 4 – 8pm

Foundational Aquatic Therapy, Part 2, The Practical

Instructor: Alison Bonnyman, MSc, BScPT, IATFcert

An indepth study of hydrodynamics as applied to the physiology of immersion and exercise prescription. You want to take full advantage of the immersive benefits for all populations and conditions. Contraindications and precautions are detailed and you learn to modify your exercises and maximize your pool time with individuals with challenging health conditions. The focus will be on effective treatment programs to address common therapeutic goals such as strength, ROM, balance, and gait.

All participants are required to complete the 1-hour online Part 1, Foundational Aquatic Therapy theory course (http://bit.ly/2Te2ezB) prior to Part 2.

  

Saturday, June 24, 8am - 12

Aquatic Therapy for Gait & Balance

Instructor: Alison Bonnyman, MSc, BScPT, IATFcert

Evidence-based application of hydrodynamics focused on gait and balance retraining in adults. Assessment on deck and in pool for immediate feedback for patient and therapist. Creative manipulation of depth, turbulence, equipment, stabilization, and suspension will provide you with limitless ideas when responding to your patient’s specific needs.

 

Saturday, June 24, 2pm to 6pm

Aquatic Therapy for the Orthopaedic Client

Instructor: Alison Bonnyman, MSc, BScPT, IATFcert

Objectives for this course are to share the most recent evidence about aquatic therapy for chronic pain. We will practice techniques to attain power, endurance, range, function, sport and cardiovascular goals. Conditions highlighted include chronic low back pain, THR, TKA, shoulder replacement, and the injured athlete. Find out why and how aquatic therapy can enhance your treatment outcomes.

 

Sunday, June 25, 8am - 9am to 12pm and 2:00pm -6pm

Aquatic Therapy for Individuals with Neurological Conditions

Instructor: Alison Bonnyman, MSc, BScPT, IATFcert

Therapeutic goals including tone/spasticity, cognition, neglect, mobility, gait, functional movements, balance and endurance will be addressed using aquatic interventions. 1:1 techniques, including Bad Ragaz Ring Method, BRRM, and Water Specific Therapy will be introduced and practiced. There will be opportunity to apply and design an aquatic therapy intervention to a case with progression, modification and equipment options.  

 

Sunday, June 25, 8am - 9am to 12pm and 2:00pm – 6pm

Paediatric Aquatic Therapy

Instructor: Deanna Lentini, MScPT

This course is for therapists who value the enhanced environment of water to facilitate directed, therapeutic play for children with special needs.  We will practice 1:1 techniques to engage righting reactions, reduce spasticity, stimulate fine motor control, trunk control and cognitive engagement. Methodologies practiced include Halliwick, Water Specific Therapy, Bad Ragaz Ring Method and Watsu. Case discussions and problem solving is a collaborative component of this session. The intent is to provide you with limitless ideas to engage your young patients while attaining therapeutic goals in the aquatic environment. 

Maximum number of participants: 12 per course

Fee structure:

Attending 1 course is $250,

Attending 2 courses is $400,

Attending 5 courses is $1000.

To register contact Ben Tremblay at benjamin.tremblay@aquatics.nb.ca

 

Aquatic Therapy Courses

At the Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre 

June 16, 17, 18th, 2023

Friday June 16 and Saturday 17th will be the same 1-day course

8:30am to 4:30pm

Instructor: Alison Bonnyman, PT IATFcert

The course is designed for TOHRC and will apply the principles of hydrodynamics in the rehabilitation of their patient population - Neuro and Ortho - to address therapeutic goals. A few highlights of this course: 

  • Most recent research presented for immediate practice

  • Review and application of hydrodynamic principles

  • Physiology of immersion and subsequent contraindications and precautions of APT

  • Decision-making: Optimal Pool Candidates

  • Pool management – what we should know

  • Equipment options, progressions

  • Prescription and progression of exercises to achieve goals:

    • Gait and balance retraining

    • Strengthening – UE, LE, Core

    • Cardiovascular health

    • Tone reduction/control

    • Stimulate cognitive function, address neglect

  • Progression of techniques to achieve goals:

    • Supportive positions, methodology, applications and techniques

    • Facilitating positions, methodology, applications and techniques

  • Description and practice of Bad Ragaz, Halliwick, Watsu, Ai Chi

  • Problem solving the issues in complex patient care

Sunday June 18 - Paediatric Aquatic Therapy

8:30am to 4:30pm

Instructor: Deanna Lentini, PT, Halliwick cert.

The land lecture will review the specific contraindications and precautions when working with children in the aquatic environment, methodological theory and explore the research on the effectiveness of aquatic therapy in the paediatric population.​ The in-pool sessions will practice application of hydrodynamics to facilitate directed, therapeutic play for children with special needs.  We will practice mixed methods and 1:1 techniques such as Halliwick and Watsu that engage righting reactions, reduce spasticity, stimulate fine motor control, address trunk control and enhance cognitive engagement. Case discussions and problem solving is a collaborative component of this course. The intent is to provide participants with limitless ideas to engage our younger patients while attaining therapeutic goals in the aquatic environment. 

All rehab professionals are welcomed.

  For details and registration please email Sarah Siderius at ssiderius@toh.ca

 

Aquatic Therapy Interest Group

In-Pool Session

Date: TBA

Time: 2:30pm to 4:30pm - Drop-in Therapeutic Times

AT: Clarkson CC, 2475 Truscott Dr, Mississauga

Admission to Therapy Pool  ~$8

RSVP: Alison at aquaticrehabpt@gmail.com

 

Let's practice aquatic therapy! Bring your questions, practice our techniques! 

      If you have a pool in the GTA that can host a Sunday afternoon meet & splash, please         connect at aquaticrehabpt@gmail.com

Foundational Aquatic Therapy, Part 2, The Practical 

Date: Friday June 9, 4pm to 8pm In-Pool Workshop

           

Instructor: Audrey Collins, PTA, IATFcert

Location: 2568 Gelert Rd, Minden, Ontario K0M 2K0

Registration: Contact Audrey at audrey.rehab@gmail.com

Cost: $300

Maximum # of participants: 6

This 4-hour, in-pool, course is the applied practice of hydrodynamics for exercise prescription in order to take full advantage of the immersive benefits for all populations and conditions. Learn to tailor and progress exercises to maximize pool time. The focus will be on effective, evidence-based treatment to address therapeutic goals such as strength, ROM, balance, and are provided.

Case-based learning and quizzes are embedded in this session. Certificates and Manuals are provided.

All participants are required to complete the 1-hour online Part 1,Foundational Aquatic Therapy course-  http://bit.ly/2Te2ezB - prior to this Foundational Part 2 Practicum, Embodia Academy.

     

Aquatic Therapy for Gait & Balance Retraining

Date: Saturday June 10, 9am to 1pm 

           

Instructor: Audrey Collins, PTA, IATFcert

Location: 2568 Gelert Rd, Minden, Ontario K0M 2K0

Registration: Contact Audrey at audrey.rehab@gmail.com

Cost: $300  (if you attend June 9 and 10th, course costs = $500)

Maximum # of participants: 6

This course theory will present research on the effectiveness of aquatic therapy for gait and balance training and fall prevention in all populations and review the physics and hydrodynamics that make walking in water so different from land; why this can be so effective in achieving land-based goals. The 4 hour in-pool session applies hydrodynamics and evidence for creative manipulation of depth, turbulence, equipment, stabilization, and suspension. This course will enable you to create, deliver and document aquatic therapy treatments focused on addressing gait, balance and fall prevention incorporating cognition and dual-task training to address fall prevention. This course will provide you with limitless ideas when responding to your patient’s specific gait and balance challenges. 

       

 

Upcoming Aquatic Therapy Courses 

In 2023 we are excited to be teaching in:

Hamilton, Ontario

Iqaluit, Nunavut

Edmonton, AB

Details released as soon as we confirm these locations. For more information, email Alison at aquaticrehabpt@gmail.com

CARI Course Descriptions:

Foundational Aquatic Therapy, Part 2, The Practical 

This course is the practice of applied hydrodynamics to the physiology of immersion and exercise prescription in order to take full advantage of the immersive benefits for all populations and conditions. Contraindications and precautions are detailed and you learn to modify your exercises and maximize your pool time with individuals with common health conditions. The focus will be on effective, evidence-based treatment programs to address therapeutic goals such as strength, ROM, balance, and function. Instruction will introduce some basic aquatic therapy approaches. This course offers 4 hours in-pool practice. Manuals are provided.

All participants are required to complete the 1-hour online Part 1,Foundational Aquatic Therapy course-  http://bit.ly/2Te2ezB - prior to this Foundational Part 2 Practicum, Embodia Academy. 

Aquatic Therapy for Gait & Balance Retraining

The 1.5 hour Online Theory is via Zoom and will refresh hydrodynamics and present research on the effectiveness of aquatic therapy for gait and balance training and fall prevention.

 

The 4 hour in-pool session applies hydrodynamics and evidence for creative manipulation of depth, turbulence, equipment, stabilization, and suspension. This course will enable you to create, deliver and document aquatic therapy treatments focused on addressing gait, balance and fall prevention incorporating cognition and dual-task training to address fall prevention. This course will provide you with limitless ideas when responding to your patient’s specific gait and balance challenges. 

       

Paediatric Aquatic Therapy

The 1.5 hour Online Theory is via Zoom and will present research on the effectiveness of aquatic therapy in the paediatric population, and review the specific contraindications and precautions related to hydrodynamics and paediatrics. 

This is a 4 hour in-pool session course for therapists who value the enhanced environment of water to facilitate directed, therapeutic play for children with special needs.  We will practice 1:1 techniques to engage righting reactions, reduce spasticity, stimulate fine motor control, trunk control and cognitive engagement. Case discussions and problem solving is a collaborative component of this session. The intent is to provide you with limitless ideas to engage your young patients while attaining therapeutic goals in the aquatic environment. 

       

Aquatic Therapy in Neurology

The 1.5 hour Online Theory is via Zoom and will present research on the effectiveness of aquatic therapy for individuals with neurological conditions, the protocols, the dosage, the therapeutic goals and methods that are backed by research. We review the specific contraindications and precautions related to hydrodynamics for our individuals with neurological conditions, some typical comorbidities and complex issues. 

This is a 4 hour in-pool session course for therapists who have completed the Foundational Aquatic Therapy course Part 1 & 2. Practice of 1:1 techniques using motor relearning principles, eg. overflow, sensory stimulation; to reduce spasticity, facilitate trunk control, manage neglect and engage the patient on a cognitive level. Case discussions (conditions: stroke, PD, MS) and problem solving is a collaborative component of this session. Functional goals and progressions are addressed. The intent is to provide you with limitless hydrotherapy ideas to achieve your client's therapeutic goals.

       

Aquatic Therapy in Orthopaedics

The 1.5 hour Online Theory is via Zoom and will present research on the effectiveness of aquatic therapy for orthopaedic conditions, the protocols, the dosage, the therapeutic goals and methods. Contraindications and precautions for our individuals with orthopaedic conditions will be reviewed, including low back pain, total joint replacements (hip, knee, shoulder, ankle).

This is a 4 hour in-pool session course for therapists who have completed the Foundational Aquatic Therapy course Part 1 & 2. Exercise prescription optimizing hydrodynamics, progressions and equipment, cardiovascular retraining and manual mobilizations will be practiced. Also, 1:1 techniques in suspension facilitate distraction, range of motion, myofascial release will be taught. Case discussions (conditions: LBP, THA, TKR) and problem solving is a collaborative component of this session. The ability to off-load the joints and reduced peripheral swelling while exercising is an amazing rehabilitative combination. Come & enhance your therapeutic skills! 

       

Aquatic Therapy for Chronic Pain

The 1.5 hour Online Theory is via Zoom and will present research on the effectiveness of aquatic therapy in the management of chronic pain; the protocols, the dosage, the therapeutic goals and methods in recent research. Pain-related physiological changes on immersion and specific aquatic therapy theory and methods are explored. 

This is a 4 hour in-pool session course for therapists who have completed the Foundational Aquatic Therapy course Part 1 & 2. We will practice hands-on and hands-off techniques, rhythmic breathing with movement, Ai Chi, imagery, manipulation of turbulence/wave, sensory integration both in the shallow end and deep-end. Specific manual mobilizations/distraction to alleviate Chronic LBP is taught. Case discussions and problem solving is a collaborative component of this session. 

       

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