Therapeutic Exercise

Therapeutic exercise is a physical therapy intervention encompassing a broad range of activities designed to restore or improve musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary and/or neurologic function.

Purpose

Some form of therapeutic exercise is indicated in almost every physical therapy case. Physical therapists may assist clients in designing therapeutic exercise programs to prevent injury or secondary impairments. In addition, physical therapists use therapeutic exercise as one component of patient care to improve functional ability and general well-being in those who are experiencing limitations or disability due to a disease, disorder, trauma, or surgery.

Description

Therapeutic exercise can be an intervention used in a physical therapy plan of care or as part of a recommendation in client consultation. The physical therapist uses a thorough examination including subjective and objective data to assess each patient's specific needs. It is clear that an 80-year-old woman with osteoporosis with a history of fractures is going to require a much different program from a 20-year-old athlete who wants to return to sports following a knee injury.

The main goal of therapeutic exercise is to improve or maintain functional ability, including daily living skills, through the application of careful and gradual forces to the body. Often, this overall goal is achieved through the objectives of developing, improving, restoring or maintaining one or more of the following: strength, endurance, flexibility, stability, coordination and/or balance.

Source: www.healthline.com