Exercise therapy used to be called physiotherapy.
It is used to treat:
- Pain
- Disturbances in metabolism and blood circulation
- Improvement of mobility, coordination, strength and endurance
Indications (areas of application)
- Pain
- Movement restrictions
- Reduced load-bearing capacity of the spine and joints
- Coordination disorders
- Paralysis
- Circulatory disorders
- Metabolic disorders
- Functional disorders of organ systems
- Rehabilitation
The procedure
Exercise therapy aims to restore or maintain the physiological – normal – functions of the body.
Behavioral changes are made gradually to achieve long-term results.
For example, after knee joint surgery, walking can be slowly and gradually relearned.
On the one hand, movement therapy can be carried out actively – by the patient – or passively – by the therapist.
Passive treatment options by the therapist include pain-relieving positioning, movement, and stretching of specific muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Active exercises are performed by the patient under the guidance of the therapist and can be used in the future at home to maintain the functionality of the musculoskeletal system.
One form of active exercise therapy is back school, in which everyday incorrect postures are corrected through active practice. Through frequent repetition, the exercises are permanently integrated into the daily movement routine.
Exercise therapy leads to:
- Functional improvement of damaged or dysfunctional joints.
- Strengthening of weakened muscles
- Stretching shortened muscles, tendons, joint capsules, skin, scars.
- Restoration of the balance of the musculature
- Training of movement sequences
- Promotion of blood circulation and decongestion
- Stimulus treatment of cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic systems.
