Therapeutic Exercises

Physical therapy exercises may be done to improve:

• Strength
• Range of motion
• Flexibility
• Balance and proprioception
• Mobility
• Cardiorespiratory health

Depending on the type of exercise prescribed by the physical therapist, patients may need to use the following tools and equipment:

• Foam rollers
• Therapy balls
• Resistance bands
• Free weights and dumbbells
• Treadmills
• Bikes or upper body bike
• Balance and wobble boards
• Towels and straps

Gait Training

Patients struggling to stand or walk may benefit from gait training, which is a form of physical therapy designed to:

• Strengthen the muscles and joints
• Increase endurance
• Build muscle memory
• Improve balance and posture
• Retrain the legs for repetitive motion
• Reduce the risk of falls
• Increase mobility

Gait training may also lower a patient’s risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.

Patients with the following conditions may experience difficulty walking:

• Broken legs or pelvis
• Lower limb amputation
• Spinal cord injuries
• Joint injuries or replacements
• Strokes or neurological disorders
• Muscular dystrophy or other musculoskeletal disorders

Gait training may involve walking on a treadmill and completing muscle strengthening exercises. Patients may also practice stepping over objects, sitting down, standing up, and lifting their legs.

Pain Management

To treat and minimize symptoms of pain, physical therapists may have patients do the following:

• Low-impact aerobic training to increase heart rate
• Strengthening exercises targeting core muscles
• Pain relief exercises targeting areas lacking in strength and flexibility
• Stretching exercises

Patients may also receive heat and ice packs to soothe inflammation and minimize pain.

With every exercise and treatment, physical therapy will target the following factors contributing to pain:

• Injury and inflammation
• Neurophysiology
• Fear and other emotions
• Movement avoidance
• Deconditioning
• Hormones
• Stress
• Mental and physical health conditions
• Poor sleep habits
• Nutrition

Safety Training & Education

Active Plus Home Health Care, Inc. medical professionals are trained to teach patients safe movement throughout everyday activities to prevent injury or illness.

Patients with existing medical conditions will learn how to avoid further injury, such as falls. In addition, patients will learn how to identify the risks of injury in their daily environment and take steps to mitigate them.

Active Plus Home Health Care, Inc. offers physical therapy to patients of all ages. Give us a call to learn more about our physical therapy services.