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Therapeutic Exercise

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Therapeutic exercises are designed to correct impairments, restore muscular and skeletal function, and or maintain physical fitness.

Types of Therapeutic Exercises

Depending on the patient’s condition, physical therapy may involve the following types of exercises.

  • Strengthening exercises: Typically involves heavy resistance with few repetitions. These exercises are designed to build up muscle tissue. Patients are instructed to engage in strengthening exercises two to three days a week for a specified number of sets and repetitions.
  • Endurance exercises: Engages large muscle groups over an extended period of time. Endurance exercise is rated based on frequency, intensity, time, and type of activity. Typically, endurance exercises should be performed three to five days a week, for a total of 20 to 60 minutes of continuous or intermittent aerobic activity per day.
  • Flexibility exercises: Typically involves stretching and movement. These exercises are performed in a slow and controlled manner to improve the range of motion at joints or series of joints.
  • Balance and coordination exercises: Focused on maintaining an individual’s center of gravity. These exercises are necessary for injury prevention. Athletes are required to perform these exercises to decrease the risk of ankle sprains and other injuries that may be caused by falls.

Common physical therapy exercises may include:

  • Agility training
  • Body mechanics training
  • Coordination exercises
  • Breathing exercises
  • Aerobic and endurance conditioning and reconditioning
  • Developmental activities training
  • Movement pattern training
  • Perceptual training
  • Neuromuscular education or reeducation
  • Neuromotor development activities training
  • Perceptual training
  • Relaxation exercises
  • Range of motion exercises
  • Soft tissue stretching
  • Strength, power, and endurance training
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Benefits of Physical Therapy

Physical therapy may help improve symptoms and address a variety of conditions. Other benefits include:

  • Pain management
  • Preventing need for surgery
  • Improved mobility and movement
  • Support recovery from injury or trauma
  • Fall prevention and improved balance
  • Management of age-related health conditions

Physical therapy can also help athletes improve their performance by strengthening certain muscles and parts of the body.

Who Needs Physical Therapy?

Patients may need physical therapy if they’ve been diagnosed with the following conditions:

  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Post-myocardial infarction
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Trigger finger
  • Back pain
  • Rotator cuff tears
  • Temporomandibular joint disorder
  • Stroke
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Vestibular dysfunction
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Developmental delays
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Concussion
  • Tennis elbow
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Lymphedema

Patients with burns, wound care, and diabetic ulcers may also benefit from physical therapy.

Types of Physical Therapy

Depending on the patient’s condition, they may need one or more of the following types of physical therapy.

  • Orthopedic physical therapy: Treats musculoskeletal injuries affecting the muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, and fascias.
  • Geriatric physical therapy: Treats older patients diagnosed with age-related conditions.
  • Neurological physical therapy: Treats patients with neurological disorders.
  • Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation: Used to treat patients diagnosed with cardiopulmonary conditions and those who have undergone surgical procedures.
  • Pediatric physical therapy: Used to treat and manage conditions affecting infants, children, and adolescents.
  • Wound care therapy: Done to promote wound healing by improving circulation.
  • Vestibular therapy: Treats balance problems caused by inner ear conditions.
  • Decongestive therapy: Done to address conditions affecting fluid accumulation.
  • Pelvic floor rehabilitation: Treats urinary or fecal incontinence, pelvic pain, and urinary urgency.
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At OC Physical Therapy, patients receive a customized treatment plan to help them fully recover from injuries and overuse. Our dedicated team of physical therapists seeks to provide you with better overall health through quality care.
Office Hours
  • Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
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    Address: 26921 Crown Valley Pkwy
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    Address: 29300 Portola Parkway #A,
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