Exercise Rehabilitation refers to building or rebuilding the functionality of the muscles and joints. It aims to restore function and address functional deficits, reduce pain and limitations resulting from it, and improve the quality and efficiency of movement.
Exercise Rehabilitation
What does an exercise rehabilitation specialist do?
An exercise specialist develops safe and effective exercise programs to restore function and address functional deficits. The inclusion of lifestyle management provides an educational component regarding a person’s specific condition, defined wellness strategies and independent exercise guidelines to speed up operational improvement and alleviate pain.
Conditions Exercise Rehabilitation Specialists work with
- Joint Replacement surgeries
- Osteoarthritis
- Chronic Lower Back Pain
- Rotator Cuff Tear
- Shoulder Dislocation
- Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Scoliosis
- Lumbar Disorders
- Piriformis Syndrome
- ACL rupture
- Ankle fracture or sprain
- Diabetes and Hypertension
- Cerebrovascular accident/ Post Stroke
- Mental Health
- Balance and Gait education
- And many more
Your consult journey
Exercise becomes a primary tool to address functional deficits following the acute and sub-acute phases of injury. A chiropractor, physiotherapist or doctor may refer you for exercise rehabilitation.
We will take your medical history in your first exercise and rehabilitation session. A Musculoskeletal Screening will also be performed to explore and understand your restrictions, needs and goals. This consultation is generally 60 minutes.
Follow-up sessions are 30 minutes in length and tailored to the individual. They can include muscle strengthening, core stabilization, balance training, stretching, proprioceptive training and education. We will provide specific exercises to complete at home between sessions. They include written instructions with pictures and videos to make them easy to follow.
WHY GO FOR EXERCISE THERAPY?
Pain lasting longer than three months is considered chronic. We will prescribe exercises to help manage the pain and improve your quality of life.
A physiotherapist or chiropractor is involved in injury treatment’s initial/ acute phase. They diagnose and treat you during this stage. Then they may refer you to an exercise rehabilitation specialist who will assist you with your recovery and minimize the risk of re-injuring yourself.
For people living with chronic conditions, factors such as medication, the risk of comorbidities and limitations in range of motion must be considered when exercising.
Clinical research indicates that preparing the body through a structured exercise program before surgery reduces recovery time. Similarly, following a medical exercise program tailored to you post-surgery ensures optimal recovery, allowing you to return to daily activities in a pain-free state.
Benefits of exercise rehabilitation include:
- Faster recovery
- Reduces pain
- Restored muscle strength, endurance and power
- Improves balance and prevents falls
- Improves flexibility
- Enhanced proprioception
- Injury prevention
- Creating resilience and reducing the chances of re-injury
- Reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers
- Boosts the immune system and improves bone health
