It is well known in the SCUBA community that diving produces feelings of tranquility, curiosity, and the joy of discovery on each dive. But try to imagine the feelings you would have about diving if it offered you more freedom of mobility than anywhere on land. For many people suffering from debilitating injuries and paralysis, SCUBA diving is becoming widely recognized as a viable form of therapy.
An organization called Cody Unser First Step Foundation (CUFSF) has teamed up with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute to conduct a study on the therapeutic effects of SCUBA diving for paralyzed individuals. The study will monitor 10 paralyzed veterans with regard to the psychological effects as well as physical impact of underwater activity. Proponents of the research are excited to have been granted the endorsement for this study, as there have been various reports that lend credence to the theory that SCUBA diving offers many advantages in the rehabilitation of injured persons.
Recreational SCUBA diving has been being used as a rehabilitation technique for a number of years already, with participants reporting success in regaining mobility and elevated feelings of confidence and self-worth. It is a wonderful environment to engage in physical therapy, as the decreased gravity of water puts much less pressure and strain on injuries, allowing for a larger range of motion with less pain. The muscles and ligaments are simultaneously strengthened as they are used to a greater degree by the natural resistance of the water and movements that are unique to swimming, making diving a low-impact method for effective rehabilitation. There are programs currently in place to assist wounded soldiers in the healing process upon their return, and these have proven to be immensely successful in their endeavor.
With studies like this in place, the realm of SCUBA opens widely to include those who aren’t just looking for a recreational hobby. Instructors with specialized training are needed to assist in these persons’ rehabilitation, and sufferers are being offered a new approach to overcoming their disabilities. This is just one of many ways that SCUBA can be used to help others, and we can likely look forward to more developments in this field!
Photos via Official U.S. Navy Imagery, JTF Guantanamo
