Aquatics/Swim Spas for CMT

[Guest guest]

Take the Plunge - New spas can put you in the swim

From July/August 2005 Quest Magazine Volume 12, Number 4

by Barbara Twardowski and Jim Twardowski, R.N.

Adamy doesn't swim at a gym or even in her backyard. She swims

in her garage.

The 43-year-old mother lives in Wasilla, Alaska, where it was 5

degrees below zero in February. Adamy has Charcot-Marie-Tooth

disease, wears leg braces and walks with a cane. She swims and does

aquatic exercises four times a week in a swim spa housed in her

garage.

" I can't think of a better way to exercise for anyone who is

handicapped, " Adamy said. " I love my pool. "

Swim spas — also called counter-current pools or therapy pools —

allow people with a variety of abilities to swim in place. Carl R.

Meyer of Rio SwimSpas in Brownsville, Texas, who's known for his

innovative swim spa designs, said, " I describe it as the marriage of

a swimming pool and a spa. "

Suit Yourself

A swim spa is a pint-sized pool with many of the features found in a

whirlpool spa. Water is circulated through jets, propellers or

paddlewheels.

Swim spas come in varying sizes — typically 6 to 8 feet wide and 14

to 19 feet long. The depth ranges from 3 to 5 feet, and some units

can be customized to greater depths for people who do aquatic

exercises. Dual swim spas, with separate spa and pool areas, are

longer.

Swim spas can be installed outdoors or indoors. A swim spa's water

temperature can be adjusted to provide therapeutic warm water for

relaxing the muscles or cooler water for more vigorous workouts.

Adamy researched the market for years before choosing an Endless

Pool. The unit can move up to 5,000 gallons of water every 2 minutes

through grills that straighten and smooth the water's flow.

The result is an adjustable, riverlike current that, with a turn of a

knob, can flow gently or be intensified to a racer's pace. Adamy's

swim spa is also 19 inches deeper than the standard model so she can

do aquatic exercises in it.

Get Moving

Warm water therapy is especially good for people with neuromuscular

diseases.

" Aquatic exercise enables a three-dimensional environment, " said

Meno-Fettig, a certified therapeutic recreation specialist

(CTRS) and a national speaker for the Aquatic Therapy & Rehab

Institute. " People leave their wheelchair, prosthetic, cane or

crutches behind and have freedom of movement in the water. They can

float on their backs, roll, and get into positions that they are

unable to duplicate on land. "

Activities in warm water (hydrotherapy) give a person greater range-

of-motion and help to relax muscles. Hydrotherapy also can help to

increase circulation and reduce leg swelling.

Moving around in water, if your doctor advises this, may even help

increase lung capacity.

Because the buoyant nature of water supports the body, water therapy

maximizes a person's abilities. Meno-Fettig has worked with parents

who don't know the extent of their disabled children's abilities.

For example, when Meno-Fettig tells young " " he's going to

snorkel, his mother says, " He can't do that. " successfully

snorkels, and his mother's view of him is changed.

" Water's greatest gifts are independence, building confidence and

increasing mobility, " Meno-Fettig said.

Everybody's Doing It

" Spas are a growing market. They are great for therapy and stress

relief. With the aging baby boomers, we anticipate the trend will

continue, " said Suzanne Barrows, a spokesperson for the Association

of Pool & Spa Professionals.

A swim spa at home also offers 24-hour-a-day convenience, year-round

use and privacy. It can fit in a smaller space than a traditional

pool, and requires a lower heating cost, easier maintenance and fewer

chemicals.

NOTE: Consult with your physician before beginning a program of

hydrotherapy or any other exercise. It's important to know how much

time it's advisable for you to spend exercising or using a spa, and

to have someone with you at all times.

How To Buy a Swim Spa

Research

More than a dozen manufacturers sell swim spas. Begin your research

on the Internet to compare costs and options. Many companies will

send literature and videos that demonstrate their products.

Select a Location

A swim spa can be installed in a garage, basement, patio, screened

porch or sunroom. Some spas can be totally embedded in the ground.

Others can be placed partially in the ground and some need to be

situated on the ground, usually on a cement base. Indoors, a minimum

ceiling height of 10 feet is recommended for above-ground

installation.

Other considerations in choosing a spa: If you buy directly from a

manufacturer, will you receive assistance in finding a contractor to

install the unit? A pool builder or building contractor should be

able to do the job. If you select a dealer, ask if the firm can

handle the complete installation.

" Installing a swim spa is not the average do-it-yourself project, "

Carl Meyer of Rio SwimSpas said. " Permits may be required. A plumber

and electrician will be needed. "

Consider how users will enter the spa. Decide where steps, ramps or a

chairlift will be located, and leave ample space.

Cost

The cost of a swim spa ranges from $8,000 to $40,000 or more. When

planning your budget, don't forget installation expenses.

Amenities, ranging from heart rate monitors to retractable security

covers, are available. Features that may cost extra include: a

cabinet, steps or a ramp, railings, a cover, landscaping, lighting

and exercise accessories. If the person using the spa can't climb

steps, then accessibility features such as a chairlift should be

added to the budget.

Try Before You Buy

If possible, try a swim spa before you buy it. Many dealers have

models on the showroom floor and will allow you to take a dip. Ask

about customers who have purchased swim spas in your area. Carefully

assess the spa's depth and space to determine if it's sufficient to

allow you to swim or perform aquatics.

Talk to swim spa owners and ask for references. Consult the Better

Business Bureau. Visit home shows where swim spas are being

demonstrated.

Insurance and Financing

Consumers should check their homeowners insurance to determine if

they need additional coverage for swim spas. Ask a local contractor

what city, county or state ordinances apply.

One of the simplest ways to pay for a swim spa is to include it in a

home mortgage or home equity loan. Some swim spa companies offer

financing.

If you have a prescription for aquatic therapy from your physician,

the cost of a swim spa may qualify as a medical deduction on your

income tax. Check with your accountant.

Swim Spa Resources

Aquatic Therapy & Rehab Institute

www.atri.org

(866) 462-2874

Association of Pool & Spa Professionals

www.theapsp.org

(800) 323-3996

Ask for a brochure on spa safety.

Cal Spas

www.calspas.com/spas

(800) CAL-SPAS

Dimension One Spas

www.d1spas.com

Endless Pools

www.endlesspools.com

(800) 233-0741

HydroWorx

www.hydroworx.com

(800) 753-9633

Medallion Swim Pool

www.medallionpools.com

(800) 367-3865

Rio SwimSpas

www.rioplastics.com

(956) 831-2715

Sunbelt Spas

www.sunbeltspas.com

(800) 258-SPAS

SwimEx

www.swimex.com

(800) 877-7946