To increase lower extremity resistance during exercise in a therapeutic pool, what action should a therapist take?

Increasing the speed of movement while exercising in a therapeutic pool effectively increases lower extremity resistance due to the principles of hydrodynamics. When a person moves through water, the resistance they encounter is directly related to the speed of their movement. As the speed of movement increases, the drag force acting on the moving body also increases, providing greater resistance. This principle is utilized in aquatic therapy to strengthen muscles and improve endurance.

While other options may have effects on the overall exercise experience, they do not specifically increase resistance in the same manner as increasing movement speed does. For example, increasing the depth of water or decreasing the level of body immersion does not directly correlate with an increase in resistance; instead, these factors can influence buoyancy and overall support. Decreasing the duration of exercise would not enhance resistance either, as it would limit the time available for applying resistance through movement.