Therapeutic Exercises

Therapeutic exercises are bodily movement prescribed to correct an impairment, improve musculoskeletal function, or maintain a state of well-being. It may vary from highly selected activities restricted to specific muscles or parts of the body, to general and vigorous activities that can return a recovering patient to the peak of physical condition. 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, if possible, achieve and maintain maximal voluntary contractile force (MVC)

• Improve exercise performance and functional capacity (endurance)