Developing a Water Exercise Program for Individuals With Stroke

Overview

This course explores how to design and implement an evidence-based water exercise program for individuals living with stroke.

Led by Olivia Manning, a registered physiotherapist and PhD candidate specializing in neurorehabilitation, this course addresses a critical gap in stroke care: the lack of accessible, long-term rehabilitation options beyond the early recovery phase.

Participants will examine the evolving understanding of stroke recovery timelines, the high prevalence of persistent impairments and falls, and the role of community-based interventions in supporting ongoing functional gains. The course highlights how aquatic environments can be leveraged to safely improve balance, strength, cardiovascular fitness, and mobility, while enhancing patient confidence and participation.

Grounded in both research and real-world application, this course bridges the gap between evidence and practice, equipping clinicians with the tools to develop effective, patient-centered aquatic rehabilitation programs.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the long-term rehabilitation needs of individuals post-stroke

2. Explain current evidence related to stroke recovery timelines and neuroplasticity

3. Identify key impairments affecting function and fall risk after stroke

4. Understand the benefits and clinical applications of aquatic therapy in stroke rehabilitation

5. Apply principles of evidence-based practice to program development

6. Design safe, progressive, and functional water-based exercise programs

7. Integrate balance, strength, and cardiovascular training into aquatic environments

8. Address barriers to long-term rehabilitation and community program access

9. Incorporate patient-centered and culturally respectful approaches into care

10. Translate research into practical, clinically relevant interventions

Audience

This course is designed for healthcare professionals involved in neurological rehabilitation and exercise prescription, including:

• Physiotherapists

• Occupational therapists

• Kinesiologists

• Rehabilitation assistants

• Exercise professionals working with neurological populations

Why This Course Matters

Stroke remains a leading cause of long-term disability, yet rehabilitation services often decline sharply after the first few months post-event. Many individuals are left without the support needed to continue improving function, fitness, and independence.

This course addresses that gap by:

• Challenging outdated assumptions about limited recovery timelines

• Highlighting the importance of long-term, progressive rehabilitation

• Providing a scalable, community-based solution through aquatic therapy

• Supporting clinicians in delivering safe, engaging, and effective programs

By integrating evidence, clinical expertise, and patient-centered design, this course empowers clinicians to extend care beyond traditional settings and timelines - ultimately improving outcomes and quality of life for stroke survivors.

About the Presenter

Olivia J Manning, Masters of Science in Physical Therapy (MScPT)

Olivia Manning is a Neurological Physiotherapist at Providence Care Hospital and PhD Candidate in Rehabilitation Sciences at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Her current research studies the gap between formal rehabilitation and community wellness for stroke survivors. Previously she has completed research in the areas of Multiple Sclerosis, gait analysis, aging in place for older adults (The Oasis Project) and corticospinal excitability. Olivia strongly believes in embracing the complexity of neurological populations in research trials and creating opportunities for more severely impaired individuals to be active in the community.