21/05/2026
๐ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ก ๐
As Halliwick practitioners, we are constantly reminded that recovery after stroke is not simply about โexerciseโ โ it is about rebuilding confidence, balance, breathing, rhythm, movement strategies and ultimately, participation in life again.
This gentleman lives with a right hemiplegia following stroke.
A year ago, he was shuffling when he walked, his right arm held constantly in flexion, with significant difficulty weight shifting, rotating, balancing and coordinating breathing with movement.
Today, in the water, we see something very different.
Using the Halliwick Concept, we worked extensively through rotational control, balance recovery, breath regulation and graded movement challenges.
๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฌ / ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฌ
After mastering kangaroo hops and learning to lift both feet from the pool floor, he developed improved vertical balance reactions, postural timing and confidence with controlled loss and recovery of balance.
๐ง ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ & ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ
He is now able to lean sideways, retrieve pool rings from the bottom of the pool and place them onto the stand while maintaining balance.
This requires:
โข controlled lateral weight shift
โข trunk elongation on one side and shortening on the other
โข pelvic and trunk rotation
โข single leg loading
โข balance recovery strategies
โข dissociation between upper trunk and pelvis
Most importantly โ he can now lift one leg off the floor and recover his position independently.
๐ง ๐๐จ๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐จ๐ฌ
The Halliwick Concept places enormous importance on rotations because functional human movement is rotational by nature.
In these videos we can observe:
โข sagittal rotations during jumping and recovery
โข transversal rotation during reaching and ring placement
โข longitudinal rotation control while maintaining upright balance
โข combined rotations during stepping, leaning and recovery
โข trunk-pelvic dissociation essential for gait and arm function
โข dynamic postural adjustments during movement transitions
These are not isolated exercises โ these are foundations for walking, turning, reaching, speaking and functional independence.
๐ง ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ & ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ก
Through blowing bird whistles in the water, we trained:
โข graded expiration
โข breath timing
โข sustained airflow
โข respiratory endurance
โข rhythm and control
This has helped him improve speech projection, endurance and breathing coordination.
The carryover has been remarkable.
He is now able to swim breaststroke with an organised breathing rhythm and significantly improved timing between movement and respiration.
๐ง ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ & ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
Even activities such as jumping to throw a beach ball become opportunities to retrain:
โข anticipatory postural control
โข force generation
โข timing
โข visual tracking
โข coordination
โข balance confidence
โข right upper limb participation
Recovery after stroke is not always linear.
But the water gives possibilities.
The Halliwick Concept allows individuals to safely explore movement variability, rotations, balance loss and recovery in ways often impossible on land.
And sometimes, in the water, people rediscover movements they thought were lost forever.
Note: Videos posted with permission , who is very proud of his acheivements and wants to learn how to swim free style. Prior to his stroke, he enjoyed swimming and that activity was the first thing he wanted to get back to, however breath control was very challenging. Whilst speech is still limited, he enjoys singing and inspired by the movie Micheal, we were singing to "Beat it"
