Hydro track get patients on their feet

CASEY RESSLER

Frontiersman Valley Life Editor

The secret to the amazing recovery of Dr. David Barnes lies in his swimsuit.

Three times a week, he pulls on his swimsuit and hits the Hydro Track at Wasilla Physical Therapy. He said the device has greatly aided his recovery from near-fatal injuries suffered in a plane accident Jan. 1. The device is essentially a treadmill that is in a chamber that gets filled with water. The result is a low-impact exercise plan that takes the weight off of the patients' injuries.

"We can increase or decrease the amount of water in the Hydro Track to adjust how much weight they are bearing," explained Teresa Gool, Barnes' physical therapist at Wasilla Physical Therapy. "It is great for lower leg injuries, knee injuries, lower back injuries and even some shoulder injuries."

Barnes said that while he couldn't walk on the ground, having the ability to walk in the Hydro Track was a huge boost for him.

"Just something as simple as being able to walk again was a big boost to my spirits," Barnes said. "That helps you recover even more quickly."

Gool said therapists can add resistance to the patient in the Hydro Track by turning on jets, and the heated water allows increased blood flow to aid in recovery.

Prior to getting the Hydro Track, many therapists had to go to the Wasilla High School pool to work with their patients.

"We got the machine last August, and I bet we have six to eight people on it every day," Gool said. "It has been real beneficial to our patients."