Aquatic Therapy: A Path to Recovery from Surgery, Injury, and Chronic Pain

Meet Liz Potts, Aquatic Personal Trainer at New Milford Fitness & Aquatics Club
Elizabeth Potts (you may also know her as Liz Dalton…she recently eloped in Ireland!) is a
licensed Occupational Therapist with 5 years of clinical experience as an Occupational Therapist
and 15 years of aquatic experience (lifeguarding, Water Safety Instructor and Aqua Therapy). As
an Aquatic Personal Trainer at New Milford Fitness & Aquatics Club, she works with all age
groups. Her clients include those recovering from surgery or injuries or managing chronic pain,
as well as children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

QUESTION: As an Occupational Therapist with a lot of experience in aquatic therapy and
teaching swimming and water safety, which clients do you find benefit the most from your
skills?

In short, everyone can benefit. My aquatic experience includes teaching children and young
adults to swim and improve their strokes. I also have clinical experience working with children
with special needs in the pool. My qualifications as an Occupational Therapist enable me to
assist people of all ages.  Most gym members who benefit from aqua therapy are adults
recovering from surgery, injury, or managing chronic pain. Using the therapy pool significantly
improves movement and functionality.
  
QUESTION: What type of baseline assessment do you use? What criteria do you use when
creating an exercise program for a client?
 
As we are not a therapeutic center and do not bill for services, no formal evaluation tool is
required. I conduct an intake to assess the client’s current functioning and affected life areas.
This information forms an Occupational Profile that provides a holistic view of the individual.
Based on their current status and goals, I set personalized objectives. A simple full-body
exercise routine serves as a baseline, which I adapt and progress to suit each client’s needs.
  
QUESTION: What can you tell us about your personal training style?
 
After assessing a new client, I begin pool sessions with a basic exercise routine tailored to their
needs. Most sessions start with walking and stretching, progressing to resistance and weights
based on their strength, balance, and tolerance. As clients improve and gain confidence, I
increase the difficulty of exercises.
 
QUESTION: What are the benefits of an aquatic therapy training session?
 
The therapy pool’s buoyancy and warmth help relax muscles and increase movement. For
deconditioned or fragile bodies, water resistance builds strength, preparing clients to exercise
and strengthen on dry land.
 

QUESTION: We know that sometimes injuries are unavoidable, but are there ways people can
prevent them? What are the most common injuries you come across?

I often treat workplace or overuse injuries that worsen over time. My clients are recovering
from injury or surgery and face challenges with exercises and daily activities. Occupational
Therapy addresses these functional limitations by guiding home modifications and activity
adaptations to prevent future injury.
  
QUESTION: How do you track your clients’ progress? How do you keep them engaged and
motivated?
 
I monitor clients’ progress through observation and occasional notes. Weekly, I assess their
comfort with each exercise and adjust resistance or weight accordingly. Challenging clients
maintains their engagement and motivation during sessions.
 
QUESTION: What is the benefit to working with an Occupational Therapist in an aquatic
environment versus working out on your own?
 
These structured activities provide clients with an effective workout routine, establishing a
foundation for exercising during and after aquatic therapy. Once clients develop the necessary
strength-building skills, most discontinue services and continue independently. With consistent
practice, they typically need only occasional refresher sessions for maintenance.
 
If you’re recovering from an injury or trying to manage chronic pain, and would like to learn
more about working with Liz, please contact us at (860) 799-6880 and ask to speak with Tim
Gesualdi, our General Manager, or Nez Smith, our Personal Training and Programs Director. In
addition to aquatic personal training, Liz also teaches private swim lessons.