Therapeutic Exercise Restores Mobility, Strength And Coordination To Those Suffering With 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 can help patients recover from a range of impairments and can be found in many different environments. These include hospitals, out-patient clinics, fitness centers, research centers, schools, hospices and care homes. Many therapists specialize in a particular branch of physical therapy and practice exclusively in areas such as sports, pediatrics, geriatrics and orthopedics.

When beginning a program of care, the therapist will assess the patient's present condition. He or she will also look at the patient's medical details and any additional information provided by scans and lab tests if need be. He or she will then create a care program to address the patient's specific requirements.

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.

Overall, each program will include exercises to improve flexibility, balance, coordination and strength. Improvements in muscular strength in particular can play a crucial part in a patient's recovery. Those who have lost muscle mass and movement capacity can regain their strength and also their self-confidence.

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 sense of well-being raises an important insight about physical therapy. Exercise (and significant movement of virtually any kind, in fact) can have a hugely positive effect on someone's mood and degree of hope. Scientific studies have demonstrated conclusively that people who are positive and optimistic recover better and more quickly than those who are more pessimistic. Physical therapy can therefore play a critical role in helping patients recover both their physical capabilities and their quality of life.




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