Do you keep records of your alternative aquatics* sessions?

[Sulis (Sara Firman)]

Below is an extract from a recent post on my Aquapoetics: Creative Aquatic Bodywork blog. It is also a call for input and thoughts from those of you who practice alternative aquatics. I am gathering data for an upcoming presentation. Click on the title below to go to the full article. Comments there or here would be very much appreciated and valued. Thank you, Sulis

Do you keep records of your alternative aquatics* sessions?

* Is there any value in documenting anecdotal results obtained in aquatic practices such as those offered in alternative health and spa settings?

* If these practices do not fit current scientific-medical models does that mean they are not valid as therapeutic modalities?

* What aspects of these so-called alternative practices might warrant further study?

* Could we develop an appropriate framework for documentation and research into alternative aquatics?

These are some of the questions I have often asked myself since I discovered aquatic bodywork, beginning with Watsu, and found that my previous scientific background did not explain or prepare me for much of what I have experienced through this work over the last decade. It is an area that I believe remains largely unexplored, at least in any kind of collaborative way across a spectrum of alternative aquatics practitioners.

The article that follows was prepared for a clinical aquatics audience. These practitioners have, in recent years, adopted several alternative practices (Watsu for example). However, in most cases, at least officially, these non-traditional techniques and the philosophies behind them are adjusted to fit the stipulations of the clinical context which requires evidence-based therapy in order to be able to bill through Medicare in the US.

I suggest that quite often something is lost in that translation or adaptation. I would like to see more recognition by clinical and non-clinical practitioners alike of the nature of the significant differences between their practices. It is not always appropriate to assess the therapeutic value of alternative practices by scientific methods and certainly not reasonable to devalue or sideline them when they do not fit such methods.

One way to effectively demonstrate this would be for alternative aquatics practitioners to document their sessions and results more consistently than generally occurs. I invite your comments and your ideas for promoting the keeping and sharing of records of aquatic sessions, and eventually for furthering research into those aspects that do not fit the current scientific models.

If you are an alternative aquatics practitioner who already keeps records, I welcome your contact. If you are interested in keeping records, I would be glad to share with you a forthcoming basic documentation system that can be adapted to your particular setting and circumstances.

* By Alternative Aquatics I mean any water-based healing modality that involves movement and/or bodywork but that is not considered suitable without significant modification for clinical settings or medical billing (see below for a list of factors related to this).

Read the full article here.

[Sulis (Sara Firman)]

For a summary of the above and more see ongoing Discussion in the Group Aquatic Bodyworkers.

[Sulis (Sara Firman)]

With regard to Keo's earlier question: A fuller discussion of the themes in my article with examples drawn from physical therapy and alternative aquatics practices, presentation of a basic documentation package, and a compilation of 7 years of records based on this will be presented at the Aquatic Therapy and Rehab Institute (ATRI) National Aquatic Healthcare Conference in Chicago in November 2009 (See ATRI website). Would be great to put some faces to names there!

[Sulis (Sara Firman)]

Thank you Keo and Diane and all who have read this post but not yet commented. Just want to say that I am collating these thoughts and others and will hope to put those into a further action plan.

Meanwhile, please continue to report on your findings and contribute your thoughts!

Here for interest is a link to yesterday's post on my Aquapoetics blog 'Bodyways' that reviews part of Mirka Knaster's excellent book on Bodyways with reference to water and the distinctions between Western and Eastern body-based therapeutic modalities.

[Keo Opton]

*sigh*...thanks, Sulis. I will be watching and waiting, tryinig to 'catch up' with the doings and goings on among all of you...what is your topic at ATRI this year?
-Watsunami

[Sulis (Sara Firman)]

Thank you Keo! Your response has the energy I've been looking to elicit and I hope there will be others. Diane has confirmed her interest and that of Inika which I already knew from good talks with them in Harbin earlier this year. Yesterday I emailed Karla to invite her to join us here so we'll see what happens. This discussion is happening on a blog entry attached to my profile page so perhaps the formation of a Group will be a good next step - we could also do this within Cameron's existing Group for Aquatic Bodworkers, as I know this topic has her support.. I'm going to present at the ATRI conference in November and that might bring further good contacts and interest. Yes, teleconferencing is an excellent tool too.

[Keo Opton]

Dr. Bruce Becker, the only MD in the United States who researches the human body in water, may be a wonderful resource for us. He's in Spokane, WA. He recieves good funding. He came to NIH with me. I suggest we meet with him to develop our master plan!!!
Watsunami Keo

[Keo Opton]

I am sleeping better knowing my future teachers and colleagues are 'out there'. I will have my best night's sleep when a group of us collaborate on a large grant funded to assess the efficacy of Watsu. This is my life's goal and intention. I beleive we all need to work together and contribute to a longitudinal and/or cross sectional study as we all weave our data together. We need to start attending an on line live video conferencing (SKYPE?!) as a regular way to make a research plan. THe trickles (pun intended) of teensy studies are great, but we need to have a powerful study that includes a cross-culural approach, a global approach. It is hard for me to follow the strings here as well, yet I will do my best as my heart is fluttering with excitement. I've been trying to find Karla Kaspers since 1999....WABA was of little help the last I asked. Guess I was and may be out to the aquatic loops I need to be in. Please know I welcome visitors to Gainesville! We can and will find a larger venue for teaching in Orlando or Tampa, and I know we can do research with the Veteran's Hospitals and other more conservative healthcare organizations. Please call or write---352-870-9800 [e-mail]
All good things,
Watsunami Keo

[Sulis (Sara Firman)]

On the Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork (WABA) website there is a very short list (15 submissions) of applications of Watsu (click to see that). Included are anecdotal reports and studies with populations such as the elderly, athletes, children and conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, quadriplegia. The most recent (2009) is one from our new member Tomasz Zagorski on his work with athletes.


Readers here might be interested to know about an assessment method used in the pain study reported on by Watsu practitioner and MD Karla Kaspers called the Short Form (36) Health Survey, a survey of patient health. The SF-36 is commonly used in health economics as a variable in the quality-adjusted life year calculation to determine the cost-effectiveness of a health treatment.

If you want to submit to WABA's list you can do so here: Applications of Watsu.

It would be great to see much more reporting, a clearer way of doing this and some suggestions as to how to present these reports, and some thoughts about what to do with all that information.

[Diane Tegtmeier]

Just tuning in to register my interest in this topic, but can't participate right now. I'm going to be quite occupied over the next couple of weeks, but will try to catch up with this discussion as soon as I can. Inika and I are definitely interested in research documenting the effectiveness of aquatic bodywork. Glad to "meet" you Keo, and I look forward to reading your entries later.

[Keo Opton]

Thanks, Sulis, for posting the definition of Healthcare Stewardship. Dr. Block's presentation to the Gainesville Area Women's Network (www.gawn.org) is August 19th, 2009. It will be filmed and we can all see it on the GAWN site after September 15th. Off to the pool!
Watsunami Keo