Hydrotherapy classes for stroke survivors

At midday every Thursday, at Te Hiku Sports Hub in Kaitaia, physiotherapist Candice Kitt leads a group of stroke survivors in a 60-minute hydrotherapy class.

"We do balance, we do strength, cardiovascular fitness, stretching, breathing."

"It's quite a varied programme so everyone feels there's something they can do."

Hydrotherapy is a great way for stroke survivors to regain strength and mobility. It can also reduce joint pain, improve proprioception, and reduce muscle stiffness. For survivors whose balance has been impacted, it provides an opportunity to exercise safely without risk of falling. However, as with many treatment methods, the cost of hydrotherapy can be a barrier for some people. But thanks to a grant from Stroke Aotearoa New Zealand, Candice's class is fully funded and free for participants.

"Financial barriers are quite big in the Far North."

"It's not so much that people don't want to do it, it's more accessing things based on financial circumstances. Being able to offer these classes with funding takes away that barrier so that people at least give it a go. And then it's my job to make them want to come back!"

And come back they have. In the year that Candice has been running these classes, participation has been consistent and group members have doubled. Not only that, but the group has become its own little community, with members meeting up outside of classes to go through the hydrotherapy class again on their own, take walks together, and go for coffee catch-ups.

"That's the best part of the group setting."

"Building those relationships and that support, both in and out of the pool."

These classes have made an immeasurable difference to stroke survivors in the Far North.

"To be honest, I don't think it would happen if we didn't have access to funding."

"It's such a wonderful thing to offer to a community. We're really grateful."