Therapeutic Exercise

These exercises are intended to increase joint range of motion as well as soft tissue mobility and flexibility.

Active, passive, or assisted stretching can be used to accomplish this.

Active: An active stretch does not involve the use of any outside force or assistance. For example, a standing forward bend to stretch your hamstrings.

Active assisted: A stretch in which you assist yourself (or are assisted) in moving a limb into a stretched position. For example, while lying on your back, use a strap to help lift your leg and feel a hamstring stretch.

Passive: A stretch that is applied to you with no assistance from you. Usually done at home by your physical therapist or a loved one.

These are designed to help your joints and muscles move more freely and without pain.

These exercises are commonly used in physical therapy and are intended to help muscles recover after an injury or surgery. These exercises are used to safely and effectively strengthen our muscles.

Strength development begins with the ability to move against gravity and progresses to heavy lifting, such as Olympic weightlifting techniques. Basically, any type of resistance (i.e., bands, dumbbells, barbells, machines, or other weights).

Changes in gravity’s influence (i.e., lying vs. standing), speed, repetitions, or sets are all examples of progressions. The bottom line is to keep progressing by introducing new challenges to the exercise.

Balance refers to your ability to evenly distribute your weight and remain upright and steady in a static position (i.e., sitting, standing, kneeling, etc.) or while moving (i.e., transferring positions, walking, running, etc.).

Every activity puts your nervous and musculoskeletal systems to the test. Maintaining your balance is essential when getting up, walking, standing still, brushing your teeth, or preparing a meal. You lose control of your body and risk injuring yourself if you lose your balance.

Balance exercises are essential for your health, especially after an injury or illness, and are an important component of your overall ability to function.

Aerobic means “with oxygen.” Breathing controls the amount of oxygen that can make it to the muscles to help them burn fuel and move. Aerobic exercise is any type of cardiovascular conditioning or “cardio” workout. Aerobic conditioning exercises are designed to increase your heart rate and increase the oxygen in your blood to allow us to keep exercising.

Therapeutic exercises that help improve your aerobic condition can be any exercise that gets your heart rate up and sustains it. The most common aerobic exercises include activities like: Brisk walking, Hiking, Running, Swimming, Cycling, Fitness classes (i.e., step aerobics, Zumba, circuit training), HIIT (i.e., high-intensity interval training), Rock climbing, and Cross country skiing.

Aerobic exercise is a low to high-intensity therapeutic exercise that is primarily determined by the individual’s needs and tolerance to exercise. Our physical therapists will design the best type of aerobic exercise for you.