FREE FEELING Lorraine Kulik is helped by certified occupational therapy assistant Michon Burton , left , and swim-in physical therapist Ava Tobias Silverstein at the Kaplen Jewish Community Center in Tenafly .
symptoms , from muscle weakness to spasticity to pain and depression . There isnocure , though treatments are available to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life .
Aquatic therapy helps by providing alow-impact setting where people can strengthen muscles and increase their range of motion , balance and coordination , according to the National MS Society .
Other benefits are more emotional and spiritual . Laughter and conversation often echoes around the 25-meter indoor pool , which is rigged for the occasion with alarge plastic ladder and alift sopeople with limited mobility can get in and out of the water .“ This is an outing — coming to the program ,” Silverstein says .“ They want to socialize and be around other people , view other MS clients and share the same concerns and information .” Stress , anxiety and depression are common among people with MS . But at least for one afternoon
“ IT JUST GIVES YOU THAT FEELING OF NORMALCY THAT YOU CAN ’ T GET ON DRYLAND .”
CHRISTINE KOCHELL
aweek , the swimmers can smile . Barbara Lightbody of Cresskill has been volunteering with the program for over 20 years .“ Ihad just retired from my computer programming job and I saw anarticle in the local paper that said they needed swimming volunteers . Isaid Ihave togotry this , and 20 years later it ’ sstill just what Iwant to do on Wednesdays ,” Lightbody says , adding that she gets “ goosebumps ” thinking about it . The volunteers “ are abig family ,” she says . They help people get out of their cars in the parking lot and then change into bathing suits . They stay with their swimmers during the session . Each has at least one volunteer with them in the pool .
Sometimes it ’ sasmall group of just five people who make ittothe 1 o ’ clock sessions , and sometimes the group swells to 10 or 15 , says Elizabeth Halverstam , who heads the local communications committee for the National Council of JewishWomen .
But one thing is for sure : Those who take part leave happy . Joan Orenstein is acertified trainer who helps inthe pool and says she looks forward to Wednesdays .“ It just really makes you feel good when you leave that you did something really nice , and you had a good time doing it ,” she says .
The program , which has served hundreds of MS clients through the years , is looking for more volunteers and swimmers . For further information , email msnewswimmer @ gmail . com . ■
@ 201magazine ( 201 ) HEALTH 2023 EDITION
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