Splošne teme 2 / General themes 2
 
 
Fizioterapija 2013, letnik 21, suppl 1   
Koristi terapevtskega potapljanja v moderni hidroterapiji 
 
Branko Ravnak, inštruktor potapljanja CMAS M21, 2, Alenka Fidler, prof. ped. in biol. 1 
 
1Mednarodna zveza društev IAHD Adriatic, Maribor, Slovenija; 2Terme Zreče, Slovenija 
 
Korespondenca/Correspondence: Branko Ravnak; e-pošta: branko.ravnak@siol.net  
 
 
Uvod: Potapljanje je lahko del rehabilitacije in rekreacije za ljudi s posebnimi potrebami. Primerno je 
tako za posameznike po poškodbi hrbtenjače kot tudi za ljudi z duševnimi in fizičnimi omejitvami, kot so 
cerebralna paraliza, živčno-mišična obolenja, multipla skleroza, astma, amputacije, diabetes, slepota in 
gluhost. V določenih segmentih je potapljanje primerno tudi za starejšo zdravo populacijo, ki želi 
obnoviti, ohraniti ali izboljšati kakovost svojega življenja. Metode: Od leta 2002 je 1Mednarodna zveza 
društev IAHD Adriatic razvila veliko programov, v katere so bile vključene omenjene skupine, ki so jih 
skrbno spremljali zdravstveni in potapljaški strokovnjaki z vsega sveta. Programi se izvajajo v bazenih 
kot del moderne hidroterapije in v odprtih vodah kot osnovno in napredno usposabljanje za potapljače. 
Rezultati: V zadnjih desetih letih smo opazili, da so bili vplivi potapljanja majhni, vendar zelo koristni. 
Hidroterapija je zaradi redne telesne dejavnosti, izboljšane socialne interakcije in psiholoških prednosti 
precej pripomogla k izboljšanemu zdravstvenemu stanju in k večji kakovosti življenja invalidnih 
potapljačev. Zaključki: Čeprav invalidi, ki so bili do zdaj vključeni v naše programe, niso imeli omembe 
vrednih zdravstvenih zapletov, smo prepričani, da je še naprej treba nameniti veliko pozornost kakršnim 
koli spremembam. Sistematično zbiranje, dokumentiranje in obdelava pridobljenih podatkov povečujejo 
naše znanje in prispevajo k temu, da je potapljanje postalo dostopnejše in varnejše za vse več ljudi s 
posebnimi potrebami.  
 
Ključne besede: hidroterapija, terapevtsko potapljanje, poškodba hrbtenjače, invalidnost, duševne 
motnje. 
 
 
Splošne teme 2 / General themes 2
 
 
 Fizioterapija 2013, letnik 21, suppl 1 
The benefits of therapeutic scuba diving in modern hydrotherapy 
 
 
Background: Scuba diving can be a part of rehabilitation and recreation for groups of people with 
disabilities. It is suitable for individuals after spinal cord injury and also for others with mental and 
physical restrictions like cerebral palsy, nerve and muscular disorders, sclerosis multiplex, asthma, 
amputations, diabetes, blindness and deafness. To a certain extent it can be used for the healthy older 
population who needs to recover, preserve or improve their quality of life. Methods: Since 2002 
1
International association for handicapped divers Adriatic has developed a wide range of programs in 
which all the mentioned groups have been included and carefully monitored by medical and diving 
specialists worldwide. Programs are performed in swimming pools as a part of modern hydrotherapy and 
in open water as basic and advanced diving training. Results: For the last ten years we have noticed that 
immediate effects of diving are minor and mainly beneficial. However, improved health and quality of 
life of disabled divers could be the result of hydrotherapy, regular physical activity, improved social 
interactions, psychological benefits of achievements and fulfilled life. Conclusions: In spite of the fact 
that up until now disabled participants have not had any noteworthy medical complications, we believe 
that vigilance must be maintained. Systematic data collection, their analysis and documentation of 
experiences increase our knowledge and contribute to dive safety for people with disabilities.   
 
Keywords: hydrotherapy, therapeutic diving, spinal cord injury, physical disabilities, mental disabilities. 
 
 
Literatura/Literature 
1. Breskovic T, Denoble P, Palada I, et al. (2008): Venous gas bubble formation and decompression risk after scuba 
diving in persons with chronic spinal cord injury and able-bodied controls. Spinal Cord 46, 743–7. 
2. Fidler A, Gajšek U (2010). Therapeutic SCUBA diving as a part of rehabilitation for adults with mental and 
physical disabilities. International conference on diving and hyberbaric medicine / 36th Annual Meeting of the 
European Underwater and Baromedical Society, EUBS, 14-18 September 2010, Istanbul.  
3. Fidler A, Ravnak B. (2012): Koristi terapeutskog ronjenja kod osoba sa smetnjama u razvoju. Aktuelnosti u 
edukaciji i rehabilitaciji osoba sa smetnjama u razvoju. Zbornik rezimea, Novi Sad: Društvo defektologa 
Vojvodine, 109. 
4. Mikl Mežnar B (2008). Scuba diving - a leisure activity for handicaped people. 7th Mediterranean Congress of 
Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. Slovenija, Portorož: September, 18–21. 
5. Mikl Mežnar B, Ravnak B (2006). Potapljanje za ljudi s posebnimi potrebami. Rehabilitacija. 3 (4): 114–5.  
6. Mikl Mežnar B, Ravnak B (2003). Potapljanje za ljudi s posebnimi potrebami. Zbornik 4. slovenskega kongresa 
športne rekreacije. Slovenija, Terme Čatež: Olimpijski komite Slovenije, 14.–15. november 2003, 217–20.  
7. Ravnak B, Mežnar BM, Ćukušić I (2009). Diving for handicapped people in the wider adriatic region. 
Biomedical Society and British Hyperbaric Association Annual Meeting; Proceedings, Aberdeen, Scotland 
(August 25th–28th 2009), 77–80.