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SUPPORTED AQUATIC AEROBIC MARCHING

Introduce very low-impact, rhythmic aerobic movement in water for children and adolescents with significant mobility limitations.

Focus Full Body
Environment Hydrotherapy or community leisure pool with shallow to chest-deep water
Pool Depth Fully Anchored
Supervision Required
Equipment Yes

How to Perform

  1. Position the child in chest-deep water near the pool wall with a large noodle under the arms for buoyant support and one hand resting on the wall if needed.
  2. Ask the child to gently engage the abdominal muscles and stand as tall as possible while keeping both feet flat on the pool floor.
  3. Lead the child into slow on-the-spot marching by lifting one knee a short distance, then placing the foot back down before lifting the other knee.
  4. Add small arm movements by asking the child to push water forward and back with the hands or gently move the noodle up and down.
  5. Alternate 20–30 seconds of marching with brief rest periods of quiet standing or gentle swaying, repeating for the prescribed time.

Key Execution Cues

Remember: Encourage smooth, slow steps, relaxed shoulders, and steady breathing; focus on comfort in the water rather than speed or height of the march.

Safety & Precautions

Important: Use extreme caution in children with unstable cardiorespiratory or seizure conditions and those unable to maintain head control; ensure close hands-on support as needed.

Additional Safety Notes: Remain within arm’s reach at all times, keep sessions short with frequent check-ins for fatigue or anxiety, and avoid submersion of the face unless the child is comfortable.

Exercise Modifications

Make it Harder (Progressions)

Gradually increase marching time, reduce reliance on the wall and noodle, or slightly increase knee lift while maintaining control.

Make it Easier (Regressions)

Shorten work intervals, keep both hands on the wall and the noodle firmly under the arms, or perform gentle weight shifts instead of full marching.

Audience

Child

Therapeutic Notes

Pediatric aquatic cardiovascular conditioning and endurance training

Clinical Conditions

  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • ADHD

Modality

  • Individual
  • Group

Benefits

Gentle cardiovascular activation, Improved tolerance for upright activity, Basic coordination of arms and legs, Reduced joint loading compared to land-based marching

Muscles Worked

  • quadriceps
  • hamstrings
  • glutes
  • calves
  • core
  • shoulders
  • arms

Equipment Needed

  • Large Noodle

When to Use

  • Warm-up

Exercise Tags

cardio severe disability rehab children low-impact Full Body

Attribution

Source TypePDF
Original AuthorAnna Ogonowska-Slodownik et al.
ContributorAI Extraction Agent
PublicationAquatic Therapy in Children and Adolescents with Disabilities: A Scoping Review
LicenseCC BY 4.0
Credit RequiredYes
Date Created2025-11-30
Last Modified2025-11-30
Original URLhttps://doi.org/10.3390/children11111404

External Source

TypePDF
URLhttps://doi.org/10.3390/children11111404
Additional InfoConceptually based on low-intensity aerobic exercise in water and group aquatic programs for children with disabilities; structured for level 1 tolerance.