Invented in Adelaide in 2014, Immersion Therapy has been helping people with disability, illness or injury to experience weightlessness while using special breathing equipment. 

The therapy is currently available in Greensborough at Watermarc, and also in Adelaide. Daniel Alford, a senior exercise physiologist with Belgravia Leisure, leads the Immersion Therapy team in Melbourne.

‘It’s suitable for almost everyone aged 8 and older… and it’s an experience like no other,’ says Daniel.

‘People that might struggle to move on land find this unbelievable freedom underwater – they can move in ways they haven’t been able to – it’s really empowering.

‘Being underwater you experience sensory deprivation, you can’t speak, hearing is diminished, you focus on what you are doing, giving a lot more to the activity or exercise – everything you do underwater can be classed as a mindfulness exercise.’

For people with physical disability, the ability to move without restriction underwater can have immense health benefits for their body and mind.

How does it work?

Immersion Therapy uses some equipment that’s similar to scuba gear, but it is very different. 

Immersion Therapy is 1:1 with an allied health professional that’s tailored to every individual’s goals. The equipment is purely to unlock the weightless underwater environment.  That means participants don’t need to be able to swim or feel confident around water.

What are the benefits?

Daniel says he’s never witnessed anything like Immersion Therapy in all his years of working in the allied health space.

‘I’ve worked as an allied health clinician for over 17 years, in all types of settings, from acute hospital to private practice to sporting clubs, and I’ve never been part of a service that gets results in all areas of health and wellbeing’, says Daniel.

The underwater environment is a great equalizer, where subtle movements, verbal communication and sound have no place.  For people who experience difficulty in typical social settings, this means Immersion Therapy is a safe space away from the everyday world.

Physically, being weightless in the water can help relieve chronic pain. It’s especially useful for people who usually are seated in mobility aids –  the underwater weightless environment allows for pressure relief, and allows for decompression of the spine and stretching out in ways you couldn’t on land.

Watermarc in Greensborough prides itself on accessibility and inclusion, it boasts a brand new changing places changeroom, electric pool hoist with wet chair and sling options, plus knowledgeable and friendly staff ready to assist. 

To find out more about Immersion Therapy please visit www.immersiontherapy.com.au

Georgina’s experience

I came across Immersion Therapy (IT) at a WOT Day at the Royal Talbot back in April 2024. After chatting to the manager and one of the participants I was eager to get involved with this new type of water therapy.

Being a water baby myself, I wanted to return to exercising in the swimming pool. Although in the past I had tried hydrotherapy sessions with an exercise physiologist (EP), it was not fulfilling my goals, and I felt confined to the smaller warm water pools which were often crowded.

Also, as a T7 paraplegic and a wheelchair user, I required assistance to transfer into a pool chair (using my slide board) and help to enter and exit the pool using the ramp.With only one person helping me with my transfers, I often felt anxious that I would fall.

So, I began my exploration of Immersion Therapy, where I was advised that I would receive all the support I needed to remove any barriers or concerns. I had an online introductory appointment, to tailor my sessions to my goals, and then I completed a doctor’s screening, to ensure the scuba-type equipment used would be safe for me.

My sessions at Watermarc involve 2-3 specially trained EPs, who all help to make my chair-to-hoist chair transfers seamless (with a slide board). The pool hoist and lifter also avoids the need of ramps to get in and out of the pool. The session goes for an hour, and I use a special water suit to help keep me warm.

Using the scuba type equipment was new for me, and I was excited to try it. My EP provided me with all the safety training and guidance I needed. The tank and mouth regulator (for breathing) did not take long to get used to, and I quickly began trying underwater exercises using weights, and playing other game-type activities such as throwing the ball and picking up toys from the pool floor.

I should also mention the forward and backward flips I do, and the awesome underwater scooter which I have way too much fun with. My EP is always near, closely monitoring and ensuring my safety 100% of the time, and we use hand signals to communicate underwater.

The freedom and weightlessness that I feel underwater makes me so happy as I am not in my wheelchair, and my legs have the chance to float as they please. I also get the opportunity to stretch the whole body in a safe way. Lately, I have wanted to incorporate more conventional swimming into my sessions, and the team have been more than happy to assist with whatever goals I have.

I have found a new, fun way to exercise that ticks off many goals and removes many barriers for me. If you’re up for trying something new, I’d encourage you to give it a go. Immersion Therapy is funded under NDIS under Daily Living – Capacity Building – Exercise Physiology.