Therapeutic Exercise In Physical Therapy

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Therapeutic exercise is one of the many interventions in physical therapy. Exercise as
a therapy is based on the belief that the body adapts to the physical stresses to which it is
subjected.” (Chino, Davis). There is a process to find out if therapeutic exercise is right for the patient. A
physical therapist begins by conducting a thorough evaluation of an individual’s physical capabilities
through medical history and a physical assessment. The first objective of therapeutic exercise is to help
the body reduce pain and inflammation. Once this is achieved, the exercise program focuses on regain
range of motion and rebuilding muscle strength and endurance. Therapeutic exercise will help a patient
reach their goals to reduce functional limitations. …show more content…

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patient with a score of zero shows no contractions at all. A manual muscle test is widely used, but is not
always dependable. Sometimes, the examiner might not handle the patient correctly. A test result may be
skewed if the examiner lacks the knowledge and skills that are necessary to conduct the test. Therefore,
the test is not always accurate. There are many therapeutic exercises that are aimed to stop muscle
atrophy. While there is a wide range of muscle strengthening exercises, here are just a few. Hamstring
curls are excellent for a patient who needs strengthening of the semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and
biceps femoris. This exercise requires no equipment. The patients will need to be in prone position, then
bend the knee, bringing the heel towards the hip. Squats are a great exercise, as they strengthen the entire
lower body. However, the physical therapist must be careful to instruct the patient to keep their back
straight and to never allow the knees to be ventral to the toes. A secure surface should be gripped with
both hands. Feet should be shoulder width apart. The knees will be bent and the patient will act as if …show more content…

Abnormal balance is more commonly
seen in geriatrics. Women are at a slightly higher risk of having balance issues. Balance problems can be

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a result of muscle weakness, again, and joint stiffness. Some medical conditions such as Parkinson’s and
arthritis may lead to abnormal balance. It is common for patients who suffered from a stroke to have
accompanying problems with balance. Abnormality of vision, the inner ear, the muscular system, and
proprioception can all increase the risk of having balance issues. Physical therapist separate balance into
two general categories; static and dynamic. Static balance is the ability to maintain the body in a fixed
position. The functional reach test is designed specifically for static balance. “Dynamic balance is the
ability to maintain postural stability and orientation with centre of mass over the base of support while the
body parts are in motion.” (Sullivan, Portnry). A patient may have dynamic balance issues with no signs
of static balance issues. The berg balance test is designed to test for both static and dynamic balance. The
test requires a chair with arms, a chair without arms, a step stool, a shoe (or any small object), and a

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