Introduction to

therapeutic
exercises

Lecture 1

DR. AROOSHA ABRAR

 THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE

DEFINITION
Therapeutic exercise is the systematic, planned performance of bodily
movements, postures, or physical activities intended to achieve desired
outcomes.
1. Remediate or prevent impairments.
2. Improve, restore, or enhance physical function.
3. Prevent or reduce health-related risk factors.
4. Optimize overall health status, fitness, or sense of well-being.
 PATIENT VS CLIENT

– A patient is an individual with impairments and functional limitations

diagnosed by a physical therapist who is receiving physical therapy
care to improve function and prevent disability.

– A client is an individual without diagnosed dysfunction who engages

in physical therapy services to promote health and wellness and to
prevent dysfunction.
 PHYSICAL FUNCTION

Physical function comprises of diverse yet interrelated areas of performance

which are
– Balance
– Muscle performance
– Coordination
– Cardiopulmonary fitness
– Mobility
– Flexibility
 TYPES OF THERAPEUTIC
INTERVENTIONS
– Aerobic conditioning and reconditioning
– Muscle performance exercises: strength, power, and endurance training
– Stretching techniques including muscle-lengthening procedures and joint mobilization techniques
– Neuromuscular control, inhibition, and facilitation techniques and posture awareness training
– Postural control, body mechanics, and stabilization exercises
– Balance exercises and agility training
– Relaxation exercises
– Breathing exercises and ventilatory muscle training
– Task-specific functional training
 EXERCISE SAFETY

Regardless of the type of therapeutic exercise

interventions in a patient’s exercise program, safety is a
fundamental consideration in every aspect of the
program
– Patient safety
– Therapist safety
 DISABLEMENT MODEL

Disablement models describe how a disease or a pathology results in

impairments, functional limitations and disability.
1. Pathology/Pathophysiology
2. Impairment
3. Functional limitations
4. Disability
 PATHOLOGY

This first major component of the disablement model

refers to disruptions of the body’s homeostasis as the
result of acute or chronic diseases that are indicative of
alterations or interruptions of structure or function of
the body at the cellular level.
 IMPAIRMENT

– Impairments are the consequences of pathological conditions; that

is, they are the signs and symptoms that reflect abnormalities at the
body system, organ, or tissue level.
– PRIMARY IMPAIRMENT
– Impairments may arise directly from the pathology.
– SECONDARY IMPAIRMENT
– Impairments that are the result of preexisting impairments
 FUNCTIONAL LIMITATIONS

– They are the result of impairments and are characterized by the reduced ability
of a person to perform actions or components of motor skills in an efficient or
typically expected manner
– When impairments cause functional limitations, a person’s quality of life may
begin to deteriorate.
– TYPES OF FUNCTIONAL LIMITATIONS
– ADL (activity of daily living)
– IADL (instrumental activity of daily living)
 DISABILTY

– The final category of the disablement continuum is

disability.
– A disability is defined as a condition or function judged
to be significantly impaired relative to the usual
standard of an individual or group.
– Difficulty with societal functioning.
 PREVENTION

– Understanding the relationships among pathology, impairments, functional limitations, and

perceived disability is fundamental to the prevention or reduction of disability.
Primary prevention
– Activities such as health promotion designed to prevent disease in an at-risk population
Secondary prevention
– Early diagnosis and reduction of the severity or duration of existing disease and sequelae
Tertiary prevention
1. Use of rehabilitation to reduce the degree or limit the progression of existing disability.
2. improve multiple aspects of function in persons with chronic, irreversible diseases.
 RISK FACTORS

1. Risk factors related to disablement are influences or

characteristics that predispose a person to the process of
disablement.
2. They exist prior to the onset of the pathology, impairments,
functional limitations or disability.
3. When active pathology exists, the reduction of risk factors
by means of buffers is appropriate.