Introduction to Therapeutic Exercise
Top Contributors - Jess Bell, Wanda van Niekerk and Kim Jackson
Introduction[edit | edit source]
When considering exercise prescription in physiotherapy practice, it is important to understand the difference between therapeutic exercise and general exercise. General exercise is essentially a “work out”. It is exercise for wellness, overall health, appearance, fun, leisure etc.[1]
Therapeutic exercise is specifically for individuals who have a physical problem / impairment, which is often painful.[1]
“Therapeutic exercise is distinguishable from other forms of recreation because it is a purposeful, body-building activity, often prescribed by experts [...], drawing on their knowledge of bodily function to engage in a powerful form of anatomo-politics”.[2]
Rehabilitation professionals must be able to assess, analyse, and determine what is going on to cause a client’s pain or impairment. Exercises are then prescribed in order to address deficits in:[1]
- Mobility / flexibility
- Strength and power
- Neuromuscular control
- Muscular endurance
Why include therapeutic exercise in a treatment plan?
Much research exists to support the use of exercise in clinical practice:[3][4][5][6]
- Research supports the use of exercise intervention for long-term changes versus manual therapy alone
- Exercise is supported over any other therapeutic intervention
- Exercise interventions enable individuals to self-manage their symptoms[1]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Jackson R. Therapeutic Exercise Course. Physioplus. 2022.
- ↑ Nicholls D, Jachyra P, Gibson BE, Fusco C, Setchell J. Keep fit: marginal ideas in contemporary therapeutic exercise. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. 2018;10(4):400-11.
- ↑ Maestroni L, Read P, Bishop C, Papadopoulos K, Suchomel TJ, Comfort P et al. The benefits of strength training on musculoskeletal system health: practical applications for interdisciplinary care. Sports Med. 2020;50(8):1431-50.
- ↑ Prall J, Ross M. The management of work-related musculoskeletal injuries in an occupational health setting: the role of the physical therapist. J Exerc Rehabil. 2019;15(2):193-9.
- ↑ Lin I, Wiles L, Waller R, Goucke R, Nagree Y, Gibberd M et al. What does best practice care for musculoskeletal pain look like? Eleven consistent recommendations from high-quality clinical practice guidelines: systematic review. Br J Sports Med. 2020;54(2):79-86.
- ↑ Bielecki JE, Tadi P. Therapeutic Exercise. [Updated 2021 Sep 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555914/