Mary Ann Wheat of Farmington (right) works with physical therapist Kirsten Lempke in the therapy pool at the Augustana Center in Apple Valley Feb. 8. (Scott Theisen Sun Newspapers)

From one side of the pool to the other, Mary Ann Wheat walks faster than she has on land in months.

At the Augustana Healthcare Center in Apple Valley, physical therapist Kirsten Lempke works with Wheat in the pool to relieve pain in her right leg. Her symptoms were caused by nerve damage during surgery to remove an area of lymphoma.

Lempke, an Apple Valley native, talks Wheat through her stretches. Later, she brings out plastic yellow cubes that use water as leverage, becoming hand weights. Back and forth the strainer-like cubes stir the water with the exercise movement.

"You're coming a long way," Lempke tells Wheat.

Wheat started with the Augustana therapeutic pool program in November when her land physical therapy wasn't working for her.

The pain in her leg had greatly diminished Wheat's quality of life. A customer service manager at Cub Foods in Rosemount, she wasn't able to work for more than three months. She wasn't able to get in and out of her car. Stairs were difficult to climb, which was problematic living in a two-story townhome. Wheat also missed her evenings out with friends, antiquing and babysitting her 2-year-old granddaughter.

"It caused a considerable amount of depression," Wheat said.

Wheat was not a regular swimmer and didn't know quite what to expect from the program at Augustana Healthcare Center.

"Now I can stand - it's pretty remarkable," she said. "I feel much more energized; it's how exercise is supposed to make you feel."

Aquatic physical therapy is the practice of physical therapy by trained and licensed physical therapists in a pool. The natural properties of water such as buoyancy, support and resistance, can enhance exercise. It can also be a safer environment for patients, because they fall slower in water and are fully encompassed by the support of the water.

Augustana's pool is set to a warmer temperature, which prompts muscle relaxation.

"It doesn't take very long before you feel very comfortable," Wheat said.

The therapeutic pool program, exclusive to the Apple Valley campus, serves people throughout Dakota County and the surrounding areas.

"The Apple Valley care center has had a swimming pool for several years, but until now we weren't able to directly serve people needing aquatic therapy from a rehabilitative standpoint," said Jill Arvidson, director of rehabilitation for the Augustana senior campus.

Patients are usually referred by their physician and most insurance programs are accepted. When a person begins the program, they are first offered an initial pool evaluation. An exercise program is designed to meet individual patients' needs.

The program serves people of all ages, whether it be for stroke rehabilitation, gait training, whole-body conditioning, and edema reduction. Common conditions treated using aquatic therapy include arthritis, cardio pulmonary, balance issues, knee and hip therapy and fibromyalgia.

"Some of these folks are amazing," said Lynne Morrin, physical therapist at Augustana.

A 94-year-old woman who had been on walker assistance progressed to walking on her own again. A manual muscle test graded her in normal adult range.

"When Augustana took over the home, they saw the potential for the community," said Lemke.

Another example of patient success, Lemke said, was with a man with cerebral palsy who attends group exercise classes. He is unable to walk on land, but can in the pool.

"You can do things that you can't do in land physical therapy," Lemke said.

Several methods used in the program are derived from Bad Ragaz, exercises practiced in Germany and Switzerland. Bad Ragaz is performed in a hands-on manner by the physical therapist, moving the patient in relaxation patterns in the water

Wheat now believes she will make a full recovery with the progress she's made in the aquatic therapy program.

"Two months ago I would have never have believed it," she said.

Participants at the Augustana Healthcare Center aquatic therapy program can enroll in open swim programs. The pool and Jacuzzi are both at 14650 Garret Ave., Apple Valley. Changing rooms, lockers and dressing assistance are available. Participants need to only bring swimwear and towels.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 952-953-6830 or e-mail jmarvids@augustanacare.org.

(You are invited to comment about this story on our website at www.mnsun.com and/or write a letter to the editor at suncurrentsouth@acnpapers.com.)

Physical therapist Kirsten Lempke (right) assists patient Mary Ann Wheat with a maneuver at the Augustana Center in Apple Valley Feb. 8. (Scott Theisen Sun Newspapers)

The therapeutic pool program, exclusive to the Apple Valley campus, serves people throughout Dakota County and the surrounding areas.

"The Apple Valley care center has had a swimming pool for several years, but until now we weren't able to directly serve people needing aquatic therapy from a rehabilitative standpoint," said Jill Arvidson, director of rehabilitation for the Augustana senior campus.

Patients are usually referred by their physician and most insurance programs are accepted. When a person begins the program, they are first offered an initial pool evaluation. An exercise program is designed to meet individual patients' needs.

The program serves people of all ages, whether it be for stroke rehabilitation, gait training, whole-body conditioning, and edema reduction. Common conditions treated using aquatic therapy include arthritis, cardio pulmonary, balance issues, knee and hip therapy and fibromyalgia.

"Some of these folks are amazing," said Lynne Morrin, physical therapist at Augustana.

A 94-year-old woman who had been on walker assistance progressed to walking on her own again. A manual muscle test graded her in normal adult range.

"When Augustana took over the home, they saw the potential for the community," said Lemke.

Another example of patient success, Lemke said, was with a man with cerebral palsy who attends group exercise classes. He is unable to walk on land, but can in the pool.

"You can do things that you can't do in land physical therapy," Lemke said.

Several methods used in the program are derived from Bad Ragaz, exercises practiced in Germany and Switzerland. Bad Ragaz is performed in a hands-on manner by the physical therapist, moving the patient in relaxation patterns in the water

Wheat now believes she will make a full recovery with the progress she's made in the aquatic therapy program.

"Two months ago I would have never have believed it," she said.

Participants at the Augustana Healthcare Center aquatic therapy program can enroll in open swim programs. The pool and Jacuzzi are both at 14650 Garret Ave., Apple Valley. Changing rooms, lockers and dressing assistance are available. Participants need to only bring swimwear and towels.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 952-953-6830 or e-mail jmarvids@augustanacare.org.

(You are invited to comment about this story on our website at www.mnsun.com and/or write a letter to the editor at suncurrentsouth@acnpapers.com.)