Exercise therapy: how it is conducted and how it is useful

- Morning hygienic gymnastics – it is performed in the morning immediately after waking up in medical institutions, as well as independently at home. Morning gymnastics helps strengthen the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, improve metabolism, and also exerts a general toning effect on the whole body. The duration of exercises depends on the condition of the patient and conditions of the place the exercises are done (in the ward, outdoors) and makes 10-20 minutes. 

- Physical therapy – it has a restorative effect on the body, solves the tasks set in accordance with the disease and its stage. Physical exercises are a powerful stimulant of the vital functions of the human body. Exercises in a group are organized with the patients grouped according to the nature of the disease and its stage and course. In the course of the exercises, sports equipment and auxiliary devices can be used to obtain a more pronounced effect.

- Individual physical therapy – it is used in the early postoperative period for the patients whose motor ability is limited;

- Group physical therapy - patients are recruited into the group in accordance with the patient's disease and their functional capabilities.

- Advisory or independent physical therapy - before discharge, the patient is taught a special set of exercises, which he will later perform at home to consolidate the results already achieved.

Physical therapy is practiced in healthcare institutions: in hospitals, sanatoriums, polyclinics. The duration of individual exercises for patients with disorders of the musculoskeletal system is 10-15 minutes, and group exercises last for 30-45 minutes.

Physical therapy classes consist of three parts:

Varieties of physical therapy
 

- Independent exercises – these are a specially designed set of physical exercises. Exercises should be done 3-5 times during the day to increase the effectiveness of physical therapy. Independent exercises exert a serious effect in the treatment of diseases of the nervous system and musculoskeletal system.

- Therapeutic walking – it is carried out in the form of walking or dosed walking. Walking is used for prevention of cardiovascular and other diseases and rehabilitation after them. In addition, this type of exercise therapy increases the overall tone of the body. There are individual recommendations for therapeutic walking depending on age, health status, level of physical fitness.

- Standardized climbing (Terrainkur) is one of the varieties of therapeutic walking. Terrainkur represents special walking routes with the elements of climbing, which usually are found in the conditions of a sanatorium-resort area over rough or mountainous terrain. The intensity of physical activity during the ascent depends on the terrain, the rate of walking, the number of stops, their duration, as well as the length of the route developed.

- Sports exercises and sports games are another kind of physical therapy that has become widespread in rehabilitation centers and sanatoriums. Classes are supervised by a physical therapy instructor. He teaches the technique of the game and controls the degree of physical load.

Thus, sports games (tennis, baseball, badminton, croquet, bowling) and exercises (rowing, skiing) restore motor capabilities, increase performance, improve general condition and strengthen the body as a whole.

Types of exercises