Halliwick Concept

Halliwick is a hydrotherapy concept developed in 1950 as a swimming method for people with special needs. It uses the buoyancy of the water to support the mobility and stability of the trunk. Thereby the Halliwick concept is a constraint-induced movement therapy. The Halliwick concept consist of water specific therapy (WST) and a ten point pragramme, which focuses on the control over rotations around various axis of the body, to create a core stability. By using the Halliwick concept you're using an problem solving method. The possibilities and constraints of the patient are analysed to help the clients functions and independence.
Advantages which the hydrotherapy method provides
The Halliwick concept can be usefull because of the following advantages:

Breath control.
Mobility and stability of the joints.
Muscle strength and endurance.
Normalizing muscle tone.
Involuntary movement reactions.
Control of voluntary movement functions.
Gait.
Mental adjustment to water.

There are different areas which can be improved through groep sessions:

Social skills
Communication
learning ability
Psychological well being
Self-esteem

The ten point programme

Mental Adjustment (MA)
Sagittal Rotation Control (SRC)
Transversal Rotation Control (TRC)
Longitudinal Rotation Control (LRC)
Combined Rotation Control (CRC)
Upthrust or Mental Inversion (MI)
Balance In Stillness (BIS)
Turbulent Gliding (TG)
Simple Progression (SP)
Basic halliwick Movement (BM)

These steps shouldn't be used as a sequence but rather as a guideline. For example point 7, Balance in stillness, can be used as a prerequisite for the rotation points (SRC,TRC,LRC,CRC).

The different points can be used for different functions or disabilities, these are:

Componets of the ICF (Internation Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health)
10 point programme steps

B440: Respiratory function
All points, mainly MA

B760: Control of voluntary movement functions
All points

D410: Changing basic body position
SRC, TRC, LRC, CRC

D415: Maintaining a body position
MI, BIS, TG

D420: Transferring oneself
Entries and exits in and out of the water

D430: Lifting and carrying objects
MA, SRC, BIS

D435: Moving objects with lower extremities
MA, LRC, BM and beyond the programme

D440: Fine hand use
Most of the points

D445: Hand and arm use
Most of the points

D450: Walking
MA, SRC

D455: moving around (D4554: swimming) also bicycling, jumping and somersaulting
SP, BM, MA, TCR and beyond the programme

D465: Moving around using equipment
MI and beyond the programme

D510: washing oneself
MA

D920: recreation and leisure
beyond the programme

Water specific Therapy
Water specific therapy or WTS is an expansion of the the point programe. The aim of this expansion was to develop a therapeutic method for adults with Orthopaedic, Rheumatologie and Neurological conditions. WTS is used to treat impairments body functions or structure. WTS is an extension of the ten point programme. these Classification of the ICF can be linked to water specific therapy:

B440: Respiratory functions
B710: Mobility of joint functions
B715: Stability of joint functions
B730: Muscle power functions
B735: Muscle tone functions
B740: Muscle endurance functions
B755: Involuntary movement reaction functions
B760: Control of voluntary movement functions
B770: Gait pattern functions
D430: lifting and carrying objects
D435: Moving objects with lower extreemities
D440: Fine hand use
D445: Hand and arm use

Hydrotherapy equipment

Movable swimming pool floor
Modular pool
Underwater treadmill

Sources
The Halliwick concept: developing the teaching of swimming to disabled, by Patrick Hastings(2010)
The Halliwick concept 2010 by the IHA education and research committee (2010)
The Halliwck concept, by Johan Lambeck and Urs Gamper (2010)