Exercise Therapy

Any form of physical activity performed as a treatment for an illness or injury is termed exercise therapy. Exercise therapy is designed to specifically treat various musculoskeletal, neurological and psychological conditions.Exercise therapy is aimed at increasing function and muscle strength, but also has additional benefits.

To be clinically useful, exercise therapy must produce desired outcomes, have worthwhile effects, and be cost effective. Basically, the therapy must do more good than harm and be something that the patient desires to do because they can see or feel the benefit of the activity.

Optimally, the therapy should be something enjoyable that the patient can do at home. Therapies, such as muscle stretching and strengthening, or aerobic exercise, such as walking or biking, may be prescribed. The effectiveness of exercise therapy depends partially on patient compliance (in other words, the patient must DO the exercises, etc.). The final outcome is also, of course, dictated by the condition being treated.

Propriosensory training- facilitates the fast, twitch muscle fibers thus insuring appropriate muscle firing and balance. This is accomplished by various monitored exercises, the use of foam rollers, balance boards and gym ball techniques.

Stretching- is done to restore/maintain the normal resting length of the involved tissues. Following normal range of motion, specific rehabilitative exercises are taught to the patient to strengthen weakened areas as well as to stabilize mechanic and posture. Re-patterning maneuvers are incorporated to help you instill an ideal stance, good posture, and and proper gait.

Home Exercises- the patient is taught home exercises and stretches that are intended to allow self-treatment and maintenance of the condition.

At the Spinal Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center, we can help design an exercise therapy program tailored to your condition, health needs, time and budget. We also have agreements with several local health/fitness centers to allow us to give you one-on-one coaching as you start a new exercise therapy routine.