Exercise Therapy is a branch of manual medicine, which focuses on the treatment and management of pain and dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system. It is designed to treat the muscles and skeletal system using various soft tissue and mobilization (not manipulation) techniques, gradually bringing the body back into alignment and effectively treating the source of pain and dysfunction.
· Stress / Tension · Computer work · Poor posture · Injury · Spinal dysfunction · Manual labor · History of repetitive movements · Sedentary lifestyle
· Soft tissue therapy – therapeutic massage of the tissues of the body to relax the muscles, decrease tension, break down scar tissue and adhesions and for relief from pain. · Stretching – used to lengthen muscles or soft tissues and/or increase joint range of motion · Heat – this can be used to facilitate muscle and soft tissue relaxation and relief from pain · Cold – this is used for the treatment of acute injuries, to decrease swelling and inflammation and also for relief from pain · Joint Mobilization – this is a technique designed to increase the range of motion and mobility of joints and the surrounding soft tissues. This is distinctly different from the high velocity manipulations that are used by other therapists such as chiropractors. · Myofascial release – fascia is a connective tissue that surrounds every muscle, groups of muscles, bones and organs. Fascia can shorten and cause restrictions in movement and impair posture, a number of techniques may be used to release these restrictions. · Cupping Therapy – this is a technique that originates in Ancient Chinese medicine where a cup is used to create a vacuum on the skin, Western medicine has now advanced the technique and it is now used to treat a range of different conditions in a number of ways · Trigger Point Therapy – this technique uses finger pressure to deactivate trigger points within the soft tissues of the body. It can be used for a wide range of conditions to reduce muscle tightness, bring pain relief and promote healing of the area. This technique is distinctly different from acupuncture which is a Chinese medicine technique designed to affect the energy channels (meridians) of the body, dry needling uses points that are defined by western based anatomy and physiology. · Manual lymphatic drainage – this technique uses a slow and repetitive stroke to encourage the flow and movement of lymphatic fluid. It is commonly used to help reduce inflammation and swelling following an acute injury, or following surgery and may also be used for people with disorders causing fluid retention. · Muscle Energy Techniques (MET) – this technique uses static muscle contractions against resistance to improve the motion of a joint, it may also be used to help with neurological retraining · Positional Release Technique (PRT) – this is a technique used to help reduce pain and muscle spasm by placing the body in a position of ease and allowing the surrounding tissues to relax
· Core strength exercises · Postural retraining · Self stretches · Balance retraining · Gait or walking retraining · Isometric exercises – these are muscle contractions designed to strengthen a muscle or joint without placing the joint under stress, they are usually prescribed early in the rehabilitation phase · Isotonic exercises – basic strengthening exercises for a muscle or muscle groups usually with resistance |