St. Mary’s Receives Generous Grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities for Aquatic Therapy

St. Mary’s Hospital for Children is pleased to announce it has received a generous grant of $8,000 from Ronald McDonald House Charities of the New York Tri-State Area (RMHC-NYTSA) to support its rapidly growing Aquatic Therapy program.

The Aquatic Therapy Program uses the relieving, low-impact environment of water to help young patients achieve their health and rehabilitation goals. Aquatic therapy has proven to benefit children with musculoskeletal and neurological conditions as well as children recovering from major surgeries or traumatic injuries.

St. Mary’s cares for a unique population of children who are challenged by a range of medically complex conditions, including chronic illness, traumatic injury, and complications of premature birth. Leveraging the physical properties of water, aquatic therapy provides a primarily non-weight-bearing activity, enabling children with varying levels of mobility to move more freely. Water therapy can help patients improve muscle tone, elevate endurance and cardiovascular efficiency, and increase circulation, balance, and coordination.

For the children of St. Mary’s, water therapy sessions are a well-balanced mix of specialized treatment and wholesome fun. Children work one-on-one with an aquatic therapist who is specially trained in these therapy techniques to maximize their functional independence.

Special thanks to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the New York Tri-State Area for their support.