THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE

Therapeutic Exercise means to enable better walking ability, release contracted muscles, tendons, and fascia, mobilize joints, improve circulation,  improve respiratory capacity (VO2 max), improve coordination, reduce tissue rigidity, improve balance, promote relaxation, improve muscle strength, muscle symmetry of force and, if possible, achieve and maintain maximal voluntary contractile force (MVC) and improve exercise performance and functional capacity (endurance) of the body.

Barbara DeLateur, MD of John’s Hopkins University, defined therapeutic exercise as “the prescription of bodily movement to correct an impairment, improve musculoskeletal function, or maintain a state of well-being.” It may vary from highly selected activities, restricted to specific muscles or parts of the body or to general and vigorous activities that can return an injury recovering patient to the peak of physical condition. Therapeutic exercise seeks to accomplish some or all of these goals.

An individual's overall physical fitness, a state characterized by good muscle strength combined with good endurance, is assessed in our office. No matter which types of exercise may be needed initially and are applied to remedy a patient's specific condition, the final goal of rehabilitation is to achieve, whenever possible, an optimal level of physical fitness for the targeted problem area by end of the treatment regimen.