Aquatic Therapy Data & Industry Resources

One of Aquatic Therapy University's Longest Standing Instructors Receives Award from the APTA

Kiki Dickinson, MPT, our longest standing ATU Instructor, has been selected as the recipient of the Judy Cirullo Award for Exceptional Contribution to the Area of Aquatic Physical Therapy. This award recognizes her consistent promotion of aquatic physical therapy through service and clinical practice, and we are excited to honor your contributions. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, Kiki!

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Reimagining Aquatic Therapy: Embedding Water Safety Without Sacrificing Skill: FAST Skills™: Functional Aquatic Safety Threshold Skills (Part 3 of 3)

FAST Skills™ are a 2025 clinical framework in skilled aquatic therapy under development by Andrea Salzman, MS, PT and other instructors at Aquatic Therapy University. Today, many children with disabilities do not learn to swim through traditional pathways. For them, aquatic therapy may be their first — and sometimes only — meaningful experience in water.

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Pools

What Pool Water Temperature Best Supports Aquatic Therapy?

Discover the best water temperatures for aquatic therapy based on diagnosis, treatment goals, and research. Includes clinical guidelines, global standards, and links to APTA and CDC sources.

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Aquatic Therapy vs. Aquatic Fitness: What’s the Difference?

Understand the difference between aquatic therapy and aquatic fitness — who provides each, how they’re regulated, and why the distinction matters for therapists, students, and manufacturers.

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Equipment

Pools

How Deep Should the Water Be for Different Aquatic Therapy Goals?

Discover how pool depth changes buoyancy, loading, and resistance in aquatic therapy. Includes depth-to-body-weight chart, gait training recommendations, and research-backed guidelines for every rehab goal.

Reimagining Aquatic Therapy: Embedding Water Safety Without Sacrificing Skill: What We Know, What We Don’t, and Why It Matters: A Thought Leadership Article (Part 2 of 3)

If there were already a tidy, laminated protocol telling pediatric therapists exactly how to integrate water competency into aquatic therapy, you and I wouldn’t be having this conversation. But there isn’t. Not by a long shot. Across the literature, no standardized, consensus-backed guideline exists for embedding water competency skills into medically necessary aquatic therapy for children with disabilities — not for ASD, not for CP, not for Down syndrome, and not for neuromotor delay.

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Resources

Reimagining Aquatic Therapy: Embedding Water Safety Without Sacrificing Skill: A Thought Leadership Article (Part 1 of 3)

Every week in America, thousands of children with disabilities miss swimming lessons. Not because they cancel. Not because they’re scared. Not because the class is full. They miss them because… they were never signed up in the first place. What if the therapy they are already attending could provide the answer?

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How to Market an Aquatic Therapy Program to Referral Sources

Learn how to build physician and rehab-director referrals for your aquatic therapy program. Proven, evidence-based strategies — no gimmicks, just professional trust and measurable results.

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Disclaimer The content provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and is intended for use by licensed and student rehabilitation professionals. It does not constitute legal, medical, or billing advice, nor does it create a provider–patient or attorney–client relationship. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy and current compliance, laws, payer policies, and professional regulations vary by state and may change over time. Users are responsible for verifying all information with applicable federal, state, and payer rules before applying it in clinical or administrative practice. Participation in any ATU course, program, or resource does not guarantee licensure, certification, or reimbursement and should not be interpreted as a substitute for professional judgment, legal consultation, or individualized clinical decision-making. By using this site, you agree that Aquatic Therapy University and its affiliates are not liable for any errors, omissions, or outcomes resulting from use of this information.

Aquatic Therapy Data & Industry Resources

One of Aquatic Therapy University's Longest Standing Instructors Receives Award from the APTA

Reimagining Aquatic Therapy: Embedding Water Safety Without Sacrificing Skill: FAST Skills™: Functional Aquatic Safety Threshold Skills (Part 3 of 3)

What Pool Water Temperature Best Supports Aquatic Therapy?

Aquatic Therapy vs. Aquatic Fitness: What’s the Difference?

How Deep Should the Water Be for Different Aquatic Therapy Goals?

Reimagining Aquatic Therapy: Embedding Water Safety Without Sacrificing Skill: What We Know, What We Don’t, and Why It Matters: A Thought Leadership Article (Part 2 of 3)

Reimagining Aquatic Therapy: Embedding Water Safety Without Sacrificing Skill: A Thought Leadership Article (Part 1 of 3)

How to Market an Aquatic Therapy Program to Referral Sources

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