UEW HPERS Organises Debut Hydrotherapy Workshop
The Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Sports (HPERS), University of Education, Winneba (UEW) in collaboration with the Ghana Foot Volley Association has organised a four-day educational and experiential Hydrotherapy workshop for its students.
The workshop, which also witnessed the involvement of nurses, navy officers, prisons service personnel and physiotherapists, taught participants how to use water to balance the nervous system, treat sports related injuries and rehabilitate the body.
The programme was put into two main sections where the first section focused on theory at the HPERS Gym and the second section being the practical session at the Olympic Arena Facility and the Sir Charles Beach, all in Winneba.
At the HPERS Gym, participants were treated to topics such as “the history of hydrotherapy, water properties, the Halliwick concept, water therapy techniques, activities for the elderly in the water, water treatment with kids and stimulating videos on Jahara and Wim Hof method of how to control the nervous system”.
At the Olympic Arena and Sir Charles Beach, the trainer used adequate resource facilities available at her disposal to demonstrate to participants the realities of the theoretical lessons. They were taken through 11 minutes breathe control exercise followed by the ice bath exercise. The partakers were assisted by the facilitator to perform the “Jahara” exercise in pairs and groups.
The Head of Department, HPERS, Mr. Munkaila Seibu established that the debut hydrotherapy workshop was part of the innovative ways the Department had adopted in fulfilment of its mission to train competent teachers and sports coaches. He indicated that the knowledge and skills participants had acquired would go a long way as a life-time profession for them even when they go on retirement.
The Trainer, Ms. Roni Leef, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Water Clinic Israel, espoused that water is not only for swimming but also for the cure of the human body system. She led the participants through the techniques of exposing one’s body into a pool of very cold ice water around three degrees. She also exposed them to the natural water by visiting some beaches to have physical exercises in the sea.
Ms. Roni Leef expounded that the deep cold ice water exposure would lead to quick recovery of athletes, relax the human body from stress, and relief people from plight fright and depression.
She expressed hope that participants would continually put into practice what they learned and positively affect others with the knowledge they gathered.
The President of Ghana Foot Volley Association, Mr. Mustapha Mohammed lauded HPERS for the excellent role it continues to play towards the provision of requisite understanding of Physical Education in Ghana.
