Therapeutic Fishing

Therapeutic Fishing

  • Submitted By: cryw0lf07
  • Date Submitted: 12/08/2008 7:30 PM
  • Category: Science
  • Words: 713
  • Page: 3
  • Views: 555

Therapeutic Fishing After undergoing cancer treatment or even a minor surgery, what is the first thing that crosses your mind? If you are somebody who likes to fish your first thought may be, how long till I’m back on the lake? Fishing is now used throughout the country for therapeutic reasons. There are injured veteran programs, cancer benefits, and for mental relaxation. To many, fishing may be looked at as boring, slow paced, or simply just a waste of time. Retired Navy Capt. Ed Nicholson believes that fishing is “good physical therapy, and then there’s the emotional part. You get out on a stream; the pain and discomfort go away” (qtd. in Phillips). Nicholson founded Project Healing Waters. Injured veterans from 19 different Veterans Affairs hospitals all the way from Maine to California hit the streams for a little physical therapy (Phillips). Dr. Sandra Vermeulen is a radiation oncologist at Northwest Hospital and Medical Center. She gathered about 7 women for a fly-fishing trip with a specific goal in mind. With the specific arm and shoulder motions that are used to cast the fly out on to the water, women can avoid a side effect of breast cancer treatment, lymphedema (Davidow). Lymphedema causes your arms and upper body to swell and can eventually lead to loss of mobility. Vermeulen states “It really isn’t about catching a fish or about the float trip on the river. A lot of them are still traumatized by their whole cancer ordeal. It’s the idea of taking these women out of the hospital, out of their community, back to a more basic look at life. And, at the same time, you can give them a skill that’s good for promoting their arm health” (qtd. in Davidow). Therapeutic fishing’s proper name is piscatorial therapy. Piscatorial therapist, Scott E. Moser asks, “Have you ever known an anxious fisherman? I thought not.” Piscatorial therapy includes different aspects. Obviously it relates to sports medicine, but it also comes into play with spiritual tradition....

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