As people’s confidence in the conventional medical community has declined, they have become more open-minded about using alternative medicine practices like Aquatic Therapy as an affordable, effective means of restoring and maintaining good health. This increase in interest has meant that many societies, regulatory bodies, councils, and influencers have appeared to support, advance, regulate, and disseminate information about the practice. In the following short article, we will review some of the leading organisations and personalities within the community.

The Aquatic Therapy Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (ATACP)
Founded in 1989 by Alison Skinner and Yvonne Rogers to promote hydrotherapy as a treatment modality and to ensure that practitioners have the requisite skills and knowledge to utilise the practice safely and effectively, The Aquatic Therapy of Chartered Physiotherapists (ATCAP) is a self-governing, professional network of physiotherapists that is recognised by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). The network promotes water-based therapies through education, clinical expertise, research, study days, research, and membership support.
Its other key objectives are:
a) To set standards of professional practice for physiotherapists working in Aquatic Therapy and Hydrotherapy
b) To educate its members through publications, study days, emails, and iCSP
c) To collect and share information relating to Aquatic Therapy and Hydrotherapy
d) To foster relationships with people who have a common interest in Aquatic Therapy and Hydrotherapy
e) To promote Aquatic Therapy and Hydrotherapy within the profession, to members of the public, and to other health care professionals

The International Organisation of Aquatic Physical Therapists (IOAPT)
Recognised as a subgroup of World Physiotherapy in 2019, the International Organisation of Aquatic Physical Therapists (IOAPT) has one of the largest memberships of Aquatic Physical Therapists in the world. Its primary goal is to advance aquatic physiotherapy worldwide.
Its other main objectives include:
a) Encouraging the highest standards of physiotherapy education, research, and practice, particularly those pertaining to aquatic physiotherapy
b) Stimulating scientific research that can provide evidence for the therapeutic value of aquatic physiotherapy
c) Promoting communication and the exchange of information between its members to further the practice
d) Supporting World Physiotherapy in representing aquatic physiotherapy internationally
e) Fostering links with other like-minded national organisations of physiotherapists
f) Engaging in all necessary activities that are likely to further the best interests of World Physiotherapy and aquatic physiotherapy more generally

Aquatic Physical Therapy International
Open to all physical therapists who work in aquatic therapy and would like to share their experiences and become more informed about the practice, Aquatic Physical Therapy International is an organisation that was formed to promote evidence based aquatic physical therapy throughout the world.
Its primary aims are:
a) To promote evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning in aquatic physical therapy
b) To provide a forum for discussing matters relating to clinical practice and management issues within the profession
c) To gather information on best clinical practice, hygiene, and safety standards
d) To foster the development of aquatic physical therapy in low-resourced countries
e) To encourage collaborative research programmes and communication regarding the outcome of the research
f) To establish relationships with other groups of aquatic therapy professionals for the furtherment of the practice
g) To support and promote the development of educational materials for professional advancement

Lynda Huey
A former athlete and coach who took an interest in aquatic therapy to try and heal her own injuries, Lynda Huey has since become one of the world’s leading aquatic therapists. She is the author of six books on water exercise, including the best-selling aquatic fitness book of all time that she co-authored with Robert Foster “The Complete Waterpower and Workout Book”. Using the knowledge that she gained by working with injured Olympic athletes and other professional athletes, she was able to develop an excellent set of aquatic therapy protocols that would ultimately be adopted by some of the major hospital aquatic programmes. Having written for almost every top sports magazine in America and having appeared on numerous TV shows, along with fact that she lectures regularly throughout the world, means that Huey is likely to continue being a prominent and influential member of the aquatic therapy community for many years to come.