How does therapeutic exercise help recovery?

Therapeutic exercise is one of the pillars of physical therapy and rehabilitation. Patients undergo physical therapy for a broad spectrum of reasons, from postoperative recovery to rehabilitation from a sports injury. Some people even see physical therapists for preventative care, especially if an issue with posture or movement has been identified that could potentially lead to injury.

For these and other conditions that are treatable with physical therapy, therapeutic exercise will typically be part of the care plan. If you’re wondering if therapeutic exercise can offer benefits for you, take a moment to read over the following informative guide. We also encourage you to reach out if you have any questions or would like to learn more about how the Armor Physical Therapy team can help you.  

Specific benefits of therapeutic exercise

Therapeutic exercises can be both active and passive. This means they can be performed by the patient themselves or the therapist can provide assistance with limb movement. These exercises are designed to support the main goals of a course of physical therapy, which is generally to relieve pain and restore functionality.

Therapeutic exercises achieve this by:

• Strengthening supporting muscles — Stronger muscles can stabilize and take the pressure off of injured areas that bear a heavy supporting load, such as joints or the spine.
• Improving range of motion — Targeted exercises can help to stretch and mobilize connective tissue that has not been moving due to injury or periods of prolonged inactivity.   
• Help with posture, balance and coordination — Often, injuries can occur or be worsened due to issues with posture or body mechanics that put excess strain on a particular part of the body. Therapeutic exercises can help people overcome these problems.

The particular exercises recommended by a physical therapist will depend on factors such as your particular diagnosis and medical history. Patients will often receive instruction on therapeutic exercises that can be performed at home.

Therapeutic exercise expertise from Armor Physical Therapy

When you come to see the highly credentialed and caring experts at Armor Physical Therapy, we can recommend therapeutic exercises and other treatment options that can help you get back to the quality of life you deserve. We can perform a one-on-one assessment and work with you to develop an individualized treatment plan.

Contact us today to learn more and to schedule your initial appointment at one of our conveniently located clinics in southwest Michigan.