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 help patients with a variety of impairments and work in a number of health-related environments. They can be found in hospitals, fitness centers, schools, care homes, hospices, and other establishments where rehabilitation care is undertaken. Many choose to specialize in particular areas such as sports injury, senior care, child care 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.

Individual exercises are designed to target a particular part of the body, or particular joints or muscles. The therapist will show the patient how to execute each exercise, and how to do so for maximum benefit. This process involves trial and error, and the therapist will carefully monitor how the patient responds. Each exercise in the program can be altered as necessary or substituted for another depending on the patient's response.

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 drills are essential for restoring lost balance that can result from certain illnesses. They are also of great help for mobility-impaired elderly patients who are at risk of falling. The aim here, is to develop lower-body strength and also the vestibular system (the area of the inner ear that controls spatial perception and balance).

Flexibility drills are aimed at restoring range of motion and suppleness. They also play an important role in preventing injury. These exercises come in many guises, but they all involve range of motion movements and stretching the muscles. Many of them also have the advantage of needing no equipment, and the positive effect they can have on a patient's sense of well-being.

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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