It is often assumed that Physical therapy treatments are just for patients recovering from a recent surgery. However, that is not always the case. Physical therapy provides a multitude of benefits for anyone wishing to restore their strength, endurance, flexibility, or stability. In fact, physical therapy is used as a treatment for any pain, injury, or ailment someone may be facing. Therapeutic exercise is a great way to restore function and live a pain-free life. For more information on how therapeutic exercise may benefit you, contact Curran Physical Therapy today!

What does therapeutic exercise do?

Exercise programs are aimed at improving health, so you can feel better than you did beforehand. Therapeutic exercise is similar in this way; however, it also implements targeted activities that are aimed at relieving pain and restoring you to your optimum level of physical function. Therapeutic exercise can also be used as a way to prevent additional impairment or disability when facing certain physical risks. There are a wide variety of therapeutic exercises and each one has a unique purpose. These include:

  • Area-Specific Exercises. Performed to certain areas of the body where limitations in strength, decreased mobility, and limited stability are found. Exercise is not just about using our muscle’s, it can be very beneficial for the bodies other systems. Area-specific exercises target breathing and circulation to help speed healing, improve blood flow, or lower stress on the body.
  • Balance & Coordination Exercises.  Every time you stand, walk, sit, brush your teeth, climb the stairs, or take care of your daily activities, you are testing your coordination between the musculoskeletal and neurological systems in your body. That is why balance and coordination exercises are so important for maintaining independence and maximizing safety, especially after an injury or illness. 
  • Strength Training Exercises. Strength training can be done using weights, resistance bands, and body weight in combination with basic or dynamic body movements. Resistance and endurance exercise routines are designed for each patient aimed to increase muscle strength and minimize fatigue without injury.
  • Range of Motion Exercises.   Are performed exercises are aimed at increasing the range of motion in your joints and soft tissues. This may be done through active, passive, or assisted stretching activities designed to help your joints move better, without pain.
  • Posture Exercises. Hours spent at desks, bending over keyboards, poor muscle tone, or simply poor posture habits can all lead to pain or injury. What you may not realize is that posture has a direct impact on muscle strength, balance, and risk of injury. Posture exercises are aimed at correcting poor posture, not just when you exercise, but also in your daily life activities to alleviate aches and pains.

Relieving pain with therapeutic exercise:

People often think that when they are experiencing pain that they should rest and avoid activity. However, limiting activity and avoiding movement can cause muscles to weaken, joints to stiffen, and fascia to become restricted which can lead to decreased functionality and more pain in the long run.

Curran PTs physical therapist are movement specialists, t rained in improving strength, range of motion, and overall function of the body. Our physical therapist will design an individualized treatment plan for you equipped with the therapeutic exercises you need to alleviate your pain, strengthen the weak areas of your body, promote the healing process, and restore function. At Curran Physical Therapy, our goal is to help you live a pain-free life with even greater strength and endurance than you had before. Give us a call at (484)-645-6451 or request an appointment  today at Curran PT to find out how therapeutic exercise can help you reach your physical goals and allow you to live the life you want!