How Therapeutic Exercise Can Restore Strength, Balance And Mobility To Those Recovering From Injury Or Disease

By Rosella Campbell


Physical therapy is a way to rehabilitate patients who have developed impairments in their mobility. It is used to restore a normal range of movement for patients recovering from certain medical conditions, illness or injury. The goal of this kind of therapy is to aid patients recovery by helping them develop flexibility, balance and coordination, and muscular strength. Therapeutic exercise is a mature form of therapy and those living in Boston, MA will find there are a good number of therapists in their locality.

Physical therapists are able to help people with a broad range of issues, and consequently they work in a variety of health-related settings. Some work in hospitals, but they can also be found in schools, research departments, hospices, fitness centers and other places where physical therapy is needed. Many choose to specialize in areas such as pediatrics, orthopedics, geriatrics and sports-related injury.

When designing a care program, a therapist will begin by examining their patient's medical history and making an assessment of their current capabilities. He or she may also draw upon information provided by lab studies and scans where needed. A care plan will then be designed that is tailored to the specific needs of the patient. As much as possible, the goal is always to restore the patient's physical capacity to normal.

Each exercise in the plan will be designed to isolate a particular body part, joint or muscle group. The therapist will instruct the patient on how to perform each exercise in order to get the most benefit from it. This is a process that may involve a certain amount of trial and error. The therapist will monitor the patient and assess how he or she responds to the prescribed exercises. Each exercise may be modified for intensity or duration, or substituted entirely depending on how the patient responds.

The essence of any program of exercise will be to improve flexibility, strength, coordination and balance or several of these attributes. Strength exercises are of particular importance for patients who have experienced muscle loss. Gains in strength are also important for restoring a patient's confidence, which often suffers when physical capacity is lost.

Balance and coordination exercises are important for restoring balance that can be lost through certain medical conditions. They can also be critical for the elderly who may have difficulty walking and be vulnerable to falls. The aim of these exercises is to improve lower-body strength and also to develop the vestibular system (the part of the inner ear associated with balance and spatial perception).

Flexibility exercises are designed to restore suppleness and range of motion, they are also an excellent way to prevent patients suffering further injury. There are many different types of flexibility exercises, but all involve stretching and range of motion movements. Many of them can also be done with little or no equipment. An added advantage of certain flexibility exercises is the sense of well-being that they can engender.

This is a critical component of exercise and bodily movement in the broadest sense. Those who have suffered with injury or disease often suffer a dent to their confidence and sense of personal efficacy. By beginning to move again and use their bodies constructively, many experience a boost in their mood and self-confidence. This psychological and emotional improvement can help tremendously in aiding patients make a speedy and full recovery.




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