Therapeutic exercise is a key component of any rehabilitation program and should be included as part of the concurrent care of any patient whether that patient has two or four legs. Physical therapists have been utilizing therapeutic exercises with great success since the conception of the profession in the beginning of the twentieth century and it has been demonstrated to be fundamental in improving function, performance and disability.
Therapeutic exercise can consist of a variety of exercises inclusive of balance, strengthening, range of motion, endurance, and plyometric activities. The goals of therapeutic exercises include the restoration of movement, improvement of function and strength, improvement in gait and balance, and the prevention and the promotion of health, wellness, and fitness.
Specific exercises are aimed at restoring strength, power and work, or endurance, or a combination. Therapeutic exercises are also utilized to increase range of motion, decrease pain, improve balance and proprioception, and restore function.
Therapeutic exercise is the systematic, planned performance of bodily movements, postures, or physical activities intended to provide a patient/client with the means to
- Remediate or prevent impairments
- Improve, restore, or enhance physical function
- Prevent or reduce health-related risk factors
- Optimize overall health status, fitness, or sense of well-being
Therapeutic exercise is used in physical therapy to prevent disability, to minimize the progression of factors which result in disabilities, and to provide rehabilitation from pathological processes which result in loss of function and participation in the community. The PT/PTA team consider risk factors which may impact successful progression through a plan of care. Biological, lifestyle, environmental, and socioeconomic factors which impact treatment planning and progression are an integral part of PT/PTA -patient- centered approach to treatment.
How does therapeutic exercise prescription support a need for skilled physical therapy services?- Therapeutic exercise effects on body tissues and systems are monitored for safety and effectiveness through objective means
- Therapeutic exercise is selected based on a sound foundation in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathology, and behavioral/social sciences
- Therapeutic exercise is individualized to positively impact impairments, functional limitations, and disability for the patient/client
- Therapeutic exercise includes principles of motor learning to optimize skill and performance of movement-based activities
- Therapeutic exercise is specific to the targeted functional outcome for the patient
What factors contribute to the safety of a therapeutic exercise program?- Health history
- Current health status (includes CP, Integument, Musculoskeletal, Neuromuscular)
- Exercise environment (equipment and surroundings)
- Accuracy of performance; includes monitoring for substitutions
- Fatigue/Endurance
- Proper body mechanics and joint protection habits by the treating therapist
Author: Sushanta Kumar Ghosh, Physiotherapy Specialist, DIU Medical Center
