Faculty Sponsor

Jana Stedman

College

College of Nursing & Health Professions (CONHP)

Department/Program

Physician Assistant Program

ORCID Identifier(s)

NO

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Symposium Date

Summer 7-22-2026

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the evidence surrounding aquatic therapy and scuba diving as adjunctive rehabilitation strategies for adults with neurological disorders and to assess whether these interventions improve balance, fatigue, gait, motor function, pain, quality of life, and psychosocial well-being compared with conventional rehabilitation.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, the National Library of Medicine, the Cochrane Library, and ScienceDirect. English-language studies involving adults with neurological disorders who participated in aquatic therapy or scuba diving interventions were included while studies involving pediatric populations, non-neurological conditions, severe cognitive impairment, or contraindications to aquatic therapy were excluded. Outcomes of interest included mobility, balance, fatigue, pain, quality of life, depression, and self-esteem.

Results: Evidence demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in balance, fatigue, and quality of life across multiple neurological disorders. Patients with multiple sclerosis experienced moderate-to-large reductions in fatigue and depression, while individuals with Parkinson's demonstrated improved balance, gait performance, and quality of life despite minimal changes in overall motor symptom severity. Stroke survivors showed improvements in balance, spasticity, and functional independence following aquatic interventions. Evidence evaluating scuba diving was limited but suggested perceived psychological, physical, and social benefits.

Conclusion: Aquatic therapy appears to be a beneficial adjunct to standard neurorehabilitation, particularly for improving balance, fatigue, and quality of life. However, evidence specific to scuba diving remains limited, highlighting the need for standardized randomized controlled trials to determine its role in neurological rehabilitation.

Keywords: aquatic therapy; neurorehabilitation; neurological disorders; multiple sclerosis; parkinson disease; stroke; scuba diving

Biographical Information about Author(s)

Katelyn Kolkebeck is an anticipated July 2026 graduate of the Valparaiso University Physician Assistant Program. Katelyn was inspired to research the topic, "Exploring Scuba Diving and Aquatic Interventions as Adjunctive Rehabilitation Strategies in Neurorehabilitation" due to her passion for scuba diving and her interest in expanding rehabilitation options for individuals with neurological disorders. She would like to thank her family, faculty, friends, and clinical preceptors whose support made her PA school journey possible. 

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