(10/25/2013)  McLeod Loris Seacoast is pleased to announce that Deborah Jones, physical therapist at McLeod Loris and McLeod Seacoast, recently earned Aquatic Therapy Certification from the Aquatic Therapy and Rehab Institute.

"Deborah has a passion for aquatic therapy," said Scott Montgomery, Director of Rehabilitation Services for McLeod Loris Seacoast. "Many different patient diagnoses can benefit from aquatic therapy.  Deborah possesses the knowledge and training to help them achieve tremendous outcomes."

As an aquatic therapy specialist, Jones will work with patients of all ages using aquatic-based exercises in addition to traditional therapeutic methods. The freedom of movement made possible by water is ideal for exercise and therapy. Because water reduces body weight by up to 90%, the body’s natural buoyancy allows for patients to exercise without putting unnecessary stress on muscles and joints.

Water also reduces spasticity and relaxes muscles allowing patients greater mobility while experiencing less pain. This type of aquatic fitness is ideal for patients suffering from arthritis, neurological disorders, orthopedic replacement procedures, acute/chronic pain, cardiovascular and pulmonary and various kinds of injuries. Improvements are seen in the areas of balance and coordination, body mechanics, posture stabilization, flexibility, gait and locomotion, muscle strength and relaxation.

"My desire for obtaining this aquatic therapy certification was to increase my knowledge of therapeutic manual techniques and exercise in the water," Jones said. "I want to be able to provide the highest quality of service possible to our aquatic based population."

To earn this certification, Jones was required to complete over 90 hours of continuing education in aquatic therapy over a three year period before taking and successfully passing a three-part examination. To maintain certification, she will be required to complete 10 hours of continuing education in aquatic therapy each year.

Jones attended College of Charleston before transferring to the Medical University of South Carolina where she earned her degree in physical therapy. She has been employed by McLeod Loris Seacoast for six years. She conducts aquatic therapy classes at the Center for Health & Fitness in Loris and at North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center. She specializes in transitioning patients from aquatic based techniques to on land based physical therapy exercises.

About McLeod Loris and McLeod Seacoast                                         

McLeod Loris and McLeod Seacoast provide care for residents of northern Horry and southern Brunswick and Columbus counties. Founded in 1950, McLeod Loris is a fully-accredited acute care facility with 105 licensed beds.  McLeod Seacoast opened in 2000 as an outpatient facility.  In July 2011, McLeod Seacoast began providing inpatient care as a 50-bed hospital. On January 9, 2012, both facilities became part of the McLeod family of quality healthcare facilities.  Other facilities located in Horry County affiliated with McLeod Health are Loris Extended Care Center and the Center for Health and Fitness.