UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES FOUNDATION

GRADUATE SCHOOL
CEBU CITY

COURSE: Masters of Arts in Education major in Physical Education

SCHOOL YEAR: 2022- 2023
SUBJECT: MAPE 254 – MUSCLE TESTING AND THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE
BRENT LOREN S. DENDEN

What is Muscle Testing?

Muscle testing is also known as applied kinesiology or manual testing, it is an alternative medicine practice that claims to
effectively diagnose structural, muscular, chemical, and mental ailments, self- muscle testing isn’t an established medical
practice and can be risky to rely upon additionally this technique has no scientific basis or proof of efficacy.

It is used to evaluate weakness and can be effective in differentiating true weakness from imbalance or poor endurance.
It may be referred to as motor testing, muscle strength grading, manual muscle Testing or any other synonyms. Muscle
strength can be assessed by a number of methods- manually, functionally, or mechanically.

THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE

Therapeutic exercise as bodily movement prescribed to correct an impairment, improve musculoskeletal function, or
maintain a state of well- being. Therapeutic exercise seeks to accomplish the following goals:

- Enable ambulation
- Release contracted muscles, tendons and fascia
- Mobilize joints
- Improve circulation
- Improve respiratory capacity
- Improve coordination
- Reduce rigidity
- Improve balance
- Promote relaxation
- Improve muscle strength and maintain maximal voluntary contractile force (MVC)

Types of Therapeutic Exercise

Therapeutic exercise aimed at achieving and maintaining physical fitness fall into the following major categories:

Therapeutic exercises are can be broadly grouped into the following categories:

Endurance exercises - These exercises are aimed at strengthening the muscles and improving your endurance by

engaging the large muscle groups in your body. Endurance training only yields results when performed consistently for a

considerable period of time, and are likely to need you to have a well-established level of strength before you start.

Strengthening exercises

These movements are performed with a greater resistance and fewer repetitions. Strengthening exercises improve the

muscle power and strength when an accident or a surgery leaves a patient weaker; they take less time but need more

energy than endurance exercises.

Flexibility exercises

These exercises come in handy when a patient has lost partial mobility of the arms or legs. By employing techniques like
stretching, they improve the range of motion and mobilization. They tend to be small movements or gentle stretches,
which can be surprisingly hard work, since they targeted at very specific muscle groups which have not been used for
some time.

Balance and coordination exercise

These exercises help patients to maintain their center of gravity, and help improve balance and posture, making
coordination easier in cases when this ability has been lost. They tend to require a lot of concentration to start with.
Benefits of therapeutic exercises

Therapeutic exercises aim to give various benefits to athletes, people who have recently had surgery, people who have had

an accident that restricts movement, and anyone who has issues with musculoskeletal functions. These benefits could

include:

 Recovery from the effects of a stroke – one of the common aftermaths of a stroke is reduced movement in your

limbs or extremities. These types of exercises can help you to regain strength and improve flexibility in the parts

affected.

 Recovery from sports-related injuries – injuries sustained during sports and other heavy-duty physical activities can

be treated using exercises. Physical therapy can also be used to prevent injuries in sports people.

 Reduction or elimination of pain – therapeutic exercises can also be used to help treat achy joints and painful

muscles. Manual therapy techniques like soft tissue and joint mobilization can help relieve stiffness and pain and

keep aches from returning.

 Managing lung and heart disease – therapeutic exercise can also help people with cardiac and pulmonary problems.

By focusing on conditioning, strengthening, and breathing, these exercises help improve the quality of life in

people with lung or heart disease.

What is the goal of Therapeutic Activity?

One of the first goals of a physical therapy exercise program is to help reduce pain and inflammation. After this is
achieved, the exercise program can then focus on rebuilding and regaining muscle strength and mobility. Therapeutic
Activity can also help with correcting faulty posture, inducing relaxation, and improving the overall levels of fitness in the
body. This is why therapeutic exercises are often prescribed in addition to surgery, or in some cases, instead of surgery.
All in all, these exercises, when done in the right way with a physical therapist, can offer remarkable benefits.