Exercise Rehabilitation is the logical next step after an injury. However, every human body reacts differently, and recovery times will change. It is important to understand that wounds and aches will improve and recover better if an exercise plan is followed.
Doing rehabilitative exercises regularly helps improve mobility, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent further damage. Exercise rehabilitation can help you with various conditions, such as osteoarthritis, back pain, tendonitis, etc.
In this article, we’ll tell you about what exercise rehabilitation exercise is, how it works, types of rehabilitative exercises, activities for young adults and older people and their benefits.
What is Exercise Rehabilitation?
Exercise rehabilitation is a type of physical activity prescribed for specific therapeutic goals, such as restoring function, reducing pain, improving mobility and preventing further injury. Exercise rehabilitation can treat various chronic conditions, such as back pain, osteoarthritis, tendonitis, etc.
Exercise rehabilitation involves selecting and planning appropriate exercises and drills for each individual based on their condition, goals and abilities. The activities may include strength, endurance, power, flexibility, balance and coordination training.
Doing the exercises with the help of a qualified professional, like a physiotherapist, who can monitor your progress and adjust the program according to your needs is recommended.
How does exercise rehabilitation work?
It is important to start rehabilitation exercises within 72 hours after the acute phase, focusing on pain-free activities with few exceptions. Following the three stages of rehabilitation is crucial for a triumphant return to pain-free daily life and sports.
Early-stage rehabilitation: Engaging in gentle exercise promotes the healing of damaged tissues.
Mid-stage rehabilitation: By gradually increasing the amount of stress put on muscles, tendons, bones or ligaments, a person can develop tensile strength and create tissue that can handle the daily pressures of daily life and exercise. This process is known as progressive loading.
Late-stage rehabilitation: Incorporate functional exercises and drills into your routine to boost your strength, flexibility, and stamina. These exercises also help to condition new tissues, preparing your body for comfortable, pain-free movement and activity in your daily life.
Combining sports massage and rehabilitation is an excellent option if you’ve suffered an injury and want to return to your fitness routine quickly while avoiding further injuries. Our programs are customised to accommodate every stage of your recovery journey and tailored to your needs.
Rehabilitative Exercise for Young Adults
Rehabilitative exercise for young adults is a type of physical activity that aims to improve or restore physical and mental functioning after an injury, illness, or disability that affects the brain or the body. Rehabilitative exercise can help young adults to regain their independence, confidence, and quality of life.
- Aerobic exercise: This involves increasing the heart and breathing rates to improve the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and organs. There are different types of aerobic exercises, such as walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, or dancing.
- Strength training: One can use resistance training to improve muscle strength and endurance. Strength training can include lifting weights, using bands or machines, or doing bodyweight exercises such as push-ups or squats.
- Flexibility exercise: It involves stretching the muscles and tendons to improve their elasticity and range of motion. Flexibility exercises include yoga, pilates, tai chi, or static stretches.
- Balance & Coordination exercise: Balance and coordination exercise: This involves challenging the sense of balance and body awareness to improve stability and posture. Balance and coordination exercises can include standing on one leg, walking in a line, or using a wobble board or a therapy ball.
- Functional exercise: This exercise involves practising everyday movements and activities relevant to the individual’s goals and needs. Practical training can include getting in and out of bed or a chair, climbing stairs, dressing, grooming, eating, or driving.
The amount and intensity of rehabilitative exercise for young adults may vary depending on their condition, symptoms, preferences, and goals. To maintain good health, engaging in moderate physical activity for at least 150 minutes or vigorous physical exercise for at least 75 minutes per week is recommended.
However, consulting with a doctor or a physical therapist before starting any rehabilitative exercise program is essential.
Rehabilitative Exercises for the Elderly
Seniors needing physical therapy is primarily caused by falling.; elders can encounter a few other risks. One of the most frequent reasons seniors require physical therapy is this issue.
In earlier times, even minor accidents could lead to severe injuries in elders and often result in bone fractures or other damages. Additionally, individuals with a lengthy hospital stay may experience weakness and be more susceptible to injuries. Hence, elderly care physiotherapy can help retain strength.
Standing On One Leg
A straightforward and efficient way for seniors to improve their balance is by standing on one leg. To do this exercise, seniors should stand with both feet together and lift one knee, raising the corresponding foot off the ground.
If necessary, they can use the support of a wall. They should hold this position for 10 seconds before returning to their starting position. This exercise should be repeated with both legs.
Weight Shifts
This exercise is designed to help seniors improve their balance by shifting their body weight. To perform this exercise, seniors should stand with their feet hip-width apart and shift their weight onto their right foot. They should then lift their left foot and hold the position for 30 seconds before repeating the exercise on the opposite side.
Clock Reach
Stepping Side-to-side
Seniors should start by moving across the room side-by-side and then progress to stepping over small objects once they feel comfortable. To improve your movement clarity, stepping side to side will be beneficial as this exercise involves lifting your feet. Once confident, try moving in different directions, like walking around or sidestepping over objects, and even moving in a figure-eight pattern.
Starting an exercise routine can be done at any age to improve your current lifestyle, no matter how long it has been since you last exercised. In addition to the above activities, you can improve your balance by walking, chair yoga, and other strength training.
Exercise rehabilitation has proven to benefit individuals of all ages and conditions. It effectively aids in the recovery process of individuals who have suffered from injuries, illnesses, or disabilities that have impacted their physical and mental capabilities.
Some of the detailed benefits of exercise rehabilitation are:
- Improving patients’ survival rates, accelerating recovery, and reducing the chance of re-injury are some benefits this can offer.
- It can improve strength, endurance, stability, mobility, and flexibility, reduce pain, enhance the body’s ability to sense its position and improve cardiovascular fitness.
- It can help reduce or minimise the risk or the effects of various health issues, such as acute or chronic diseases, illnesses, or injuries.
- Exercise rehabilitation, in conjunction with medical and surgical interventions, can improve overall health outcomes and aid recovery.
- It can help to control secondary disability by encouraging community reintegration, including the resumption of home, family, recreational, and vocational activities.
- Residual disability can be improved with the help of rehabilitative exercise, leading to an enhanced quality of life and well-being.
- It can help to prevent recurrent conditions and also help to enable a person to return to work, get into work or stay in work.
At Alpha Abilities, we help with the best possible recovery plan that incorporates exercise rehabilitation and give you holistic care. Alpha Abilities can craft an appropriate exercise plan to improve quality of life while considering the complexities of the disease. Contact us now or find us here.
