J Jpn Soc Balneol Climatol Phys Med (2014) 77 (5) 561

Section19 [ ] 19-1 A pioneer in development of aquatic therapy in Taiwan – Cheng Hsin General Hospital

Julie Ishan TZENG1), Pei-Hsin KU2)

1) Department of Rehabilitation, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan 2) Department of and Assistive Technology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

Original missions: Aquatic therapy in Cheng Hsin General Hospital was founded specifically for patients with poliomyelitis in 1960s. At that time, Taiwan was shrouded in darkness due to the outbreak of polio. Many children were paralyzed overnight and thousands of families broke down. Desperate as they were, they had caught a glimmer of hope when the First Lady, Madam Chiang, decided to run a national shelter for children with polio. Cheng Hsin Children’s Home was built and involved in educational and medical systems to provide full time care for free. Aquatic therapy was also included at that time. Following Missions: After poliomyelitis being eradicated in Taiwan in 1983, our team was dedicated in aquatic rehabilitation for people with all kinds of disabilities. Since Taiwan National Health Insurance System being established in 1995, the population receiving rehabilitation kept on rising. As a pioneer in the field of aquatic therapy, we delivered our experience to assist in construction of aquatic rehabilitation nationwide. Learning from the numerous cases, we have accumulated much experience, especially neurological deficits. Thus, physical therapists in Cheng Hsin General Hospital have designed some treatment guidelines for neurological patients. These guidelines, though not standardized, provide therapists various aspects to evaluate clinical problems and to design programs (See Table). Further missions: From the polio to all kinds of special needs, aquatic therapy in Cheng Hsin

Table Aquatic therapy programs for neurological patients in Cheng Hsin General Hospital

Warm up/ mobility Main exercises/ strengthening exercises, Cool down/ exercises cardiopulmonary fitness training relaxation exercises Walking in multiple Bad Ragaz Ring Method Slow walking directions ROM exercise of UE/LE Stretching Stretching exercise Therapeutic swimming Slow swimming Task Type training approach: Sit to stand, technique in water reach in multiple directions concepts rotational control Spinal mobilization training Strengthening exercises via varied speeds, Halliwick concepts mental levers, surface areas of equipment, floatation adjustment devices 562

General Hospital has prosperously developed. In order to broaden our horizon, our team is eager to joining international society of medical hydrology and adopting professional advices and collaboration.

Keywords: Aquatic therapy, Neurological rehabilitation, Taiwan, Hydrotherapy, Treatment guideline

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