5 Types of Recreational Therapy

Many children get bored of doing the same repetitive exercises in a therapy center. That is why
Connections Therapy offers recreational therapy! This type of therapy engages children through
play while also helping them to practice valuable mental, physical, and emotional skills. It is a
holistic approach to therapy and wellness. Children participate in creative arts, dance, sports, and
puzzles or logic games that help them to value exercise, well-balanced eating, building
relationships, and safety throughout the community. Here are a few types of recreational therapy
that we utilize at The Connections Therapy Center.
Nature Therapy
Nature therapy is a type of recreational therapy that involves walking through a natural setting,
like a park or a trail in the woods, with the therapist. Simply being surrounded by and interacting
with nature is a great way to reduce stress levels and increase self awareness.

Recreational Music
Music is a great motivator to help children with fine motor manipulation, conversational
exchanges, verbal requests, and eye contact. Learning how to play an instrument helps to improve
fine motor manipulation, matching pitch and rhythm improves conversational exchanges and
verbal requests, and following music on the page and watching the therapist for cues is great for
practicing eye contact.
Recreational Art
Art therapy enhances a child’s self-awareness and physical and mental well-being by helping
them to harness their innate expressive artistic impulses. Creating art is a great way for children
to develop self-awareness and social skills for managing emotional behavior.

Dance or Movement Therapy

The physical challenge and sensory integration of music and dance makes dance and creative
movement feel less like therapy and more like play. Children express their creativity through
movement and music.
Horticulture Therapy
Much like Nature Therapy, Horticulture Therapy offers the benefit of reducing stress by
interacting with nature. Horticulture Therapy has the added benefit of coordination and muscle
strengthening through the motions of handling plants, cognitive and memory benefits of learning
about plants and the gardening structure, and socialization benefits from working with others.
Guide to Alternative & Complementary Medicines

1. Acupressure
Acupressure is similar in practice to acupuncture (see below), only no needles are
involved. Practitioners use their hands, elbows, or feet to apply pressure to specific
points along the body’s “meridians.” According to the theory behind acupressure,
meridians are channels that carry life energy (qi or ch’i) throughout the body. The
reasoning holds that illness can occur when one of these meridians is blocked or out of
balance; acupressure is thought to relieve blockages so energy can flow freely again,
restoring wellness. More research is needed, but pilot studies have found positive
results: Acupressure might decrease nausea for chemotherapy patients and reduce
anxiety in people scheduled to have surgery .

2. Acupuncture
Though “acupuncture” may immediately bring needles to mind, the term actually
describes an array of procedures that stimulate specific points on the body. The best-
known variety consists of penetrating the skin with thin needles controlled by a
practitioner or electrical stimulation, and it’s currently used by millions of Americans
each year. Despite its popularity, controversy over acupuncture’s efficacy abounds.
Some studies find it helpful for chronic pain and depression, but evidence on all
counts is mixed .

3. Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy uses essential oils (concentrated extracts from the roots, leaves, seeds,
or blossoms of plants) to promote healing. The oils can be inhaled, massaged into the
skin or (in rare cases) taken by mouth, and each has a specific purpose: Some are used
to treat inflammation or infections; others are used to promote relaxation. Studies
suggest aromatherapy might reduce pain, depression, and anxiety, but more research is
needed to fully determine its uses and benefits .

4. Ayurvedic Medicine
Also known as Ayurveda, Ayurvedic medicine originated in India and has been
around for thousands of years. Practitioners use a variety of techniques, including
herbs, massage, and specialized diets, with the intent of balancing the body, mind, and
spirit to promote overall wellness. Studies of Ayurveda are few and far between
(perhaps because the practice includes such a wide variety of treatments), so it’s
difficult to determine how effective it is as a treatment system (But the fact that the
treatment system has persisted for so many years suggests it's got something going for
it.).

5. Balneotherapy
Also known as hydrotherapy, balneotherapy involves the use of water for therapeutic
purposes, and it dates as far back as 1700 B.C.E. It’s based on the idea that water
benefits the skin and might treat a range of conditions from acne to pain, swelling, and
anxiety; practitioners use mudpacks, douches, and wraps in attempts to reap agua’s
rewards. Proponents of the therapy cite findings that water might boost people’s
immune systems, though research on balneotherapy’s effectiveness remains
inconclusive .

6. Biofeedback
Biofeedback techniques allow people to control bodily processes that normally happen
involuntarily—such as heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and skin
temperature—in order to improve conditions including high blood pressure,
headaches, and chronic pain. Patients work with a biofeedback therapist to learn these
relaxation techniques and mental exercises. In initial sessions, electrodes are attached
to the skin to measure bodily states, but eventually the techniques can be practiced
without a therapist or equipment. Researchers still aren’t sure how or why
biofeedback works—but a lot of research suggests it does work . Relaxation seems to
be a key component, as most people who benefit from the practice have conditions
that are caused or exacerbated by stress.

7. Chiropractic
Chiropractic is pretty widely accepted in the medical community, and thus qualifies
more as a “complementary” medicine than an alternative one. The practice focuses on
disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, including pain in the back,
neck, joints, arms, legs, and head. The most common procedure performed by
chiropractors is “spinal manipulation” (aka an “adjustment”), which involves applying
controlled force (typically the chiropractor’s hands) to joints that have become
“hypomobile.” The idea is that joints’ movements become restricted when
surrounding tissues are injured either during a single event (tweaking a muscle during
a weight-lifting session) or through repetitive stress (sitting with poor posture for
extended periods). Chiropractic adjustments of the affected area are intended to
restore mobility and loosen the muscles, allowing the tissues to heal and the pain to
resolve. Studies of chiropractic generally affirm its efficacy, with research suggesting
the practice can decrease pain and improve physical functioning .

8. Homeopathy
Homeopathy functions in much the same way as a vaccine: It’s based on the principle
of treating “like with like,” meaning a substance that causes adverse reactions when
taken in large doses can be used—in small amounts—to treat those same symptoms.
(This concept is sometimes used in conventional medicine, as well; for example,
Ritalin is a stimulant used to treat patients with ADHD.) Homeopaths gather extensive
background information on patients before prescribing a highly diluted substance,
usually in liquid or tablet form, to jumpstart the body’s natural systems of healing.
There’s some clinical evidence that homeopathy is more effective than placebos,
though more research is needed to determine its efficacy .

9. Naturopathy
Naturopathic medicine is premised on the healing power of nature. Naturopathic
doctors are trained in both conventional and alternative medicines, and seek to
understand the cause of a condition by exploring its mental, physical, and spiritual
manifestations in a given patient . Naturopathy typically involves a variety of
treatment techniques including nutrition, behavioral changes, herbal medicine,
homeopathy, and acupuncture. Because it involves so many different therapies, it’s
difficult to design studies that specifically target naturopathy’s effectiveness. That
said, one study that evaluated the practice for low back pain found positive results .
10. Reflexology
Reflexology involves applying pressure to specific areas on the feet, hands, or ears.
The theory is that these points correspond to different body organs and systems;
pressing them is believed to positively affect these organs and a person’s overall
health. (For example, applying pressure to a spot on the arch of the foot is believed to
benefit bladder function.) A person can either use reflexology on her or his self, or
enlist the help of a reflexologist. Millions of people around the world use the therapy
to complement conventional treatments for conditions including anxiety, cancer,
diabetes, kidney function, and asthma. Some studies have found that reflexology can
improve respiratory function in breast cancer patients, reduce fatigue, and improve
sleep—but other studies have reached less definitive conclusions .

11. Reiki
Reiki is a form of energy healing based on the idea that a “life force energy” flows
through everyone’s body. According to this philosophy, sickness and stress are
indications that life force energy is low, while energy, health, and happiness signify a
strong life force. In a Reiki session, a practitioner seeks to “transfer” life energy to the
client by placing their hands lightly on the client’s body or a slight distance away from
the body (Reiki can also be performed long-distance). The purpose is to promote
relaxation, speed healing, reduce pain, and generally improve the client’s wellbeing.
For the most part, there’s no regulation for Reiki practitioners. Studies of the
practice’s efficacy are varied: Some find therapeutic touch to be an effective form of
treatment; some don’t . Disclaimer: The information above is only preliminary. It's
always advisable to contact a medical professional before undergoing any form of
conventional or alternative medical treatment. This article was read and approved by
Greatist Experts Dr. Mike Reinold and Dr. Phil Page. Have you tried any of these
therapies? Got any others to add? Share in the comments below, or get in touch with
the author on Twitter @LauraNewc. Originally posted November, 2012, updated
April 2014

https://greatist.com/health/alternative-medicine-therapies-explained