Physio Gatidou | Physiotherapy – Physiotherapists – Physiotherapy Lab, Sykkies, Thessaloniki

Therapeutic Exercise

		Therapeutic exercise involves movement patterns prescribed to restore neuromuscular function and/or maintain good health. Therapeutic exercise is a type of physical activity used for treating or preventing injuries and improving functional outcomes.

		The scientific evidence demonstrating the beneficial effects of exercise is undeniable, and the benefits of exercise far outweigh the risks for most adults.

		For most adults, an exercise program that includes aerobic exercise, resistance training, flexibility exercises, and proprioceptive exercises is essential for improving and maintaining physical fitness and health.


	Therapeutic exercise is considered a cornerstone of the science of physiotherapy.

Physical Activity

Physical activity refers to the contraction of skeletal muscles that produces bodily movement and requires energy.

Therapeutic Exercise

Exercise is a physical activity designed and performed with the goal of achieving or maintaining physical fitness. Physical fitness is a set of characteristics that allows an individual to perform physical activity.

The most commonly included exercises are categorized into 4 groups:

	Strength exercises, typically performed with high resistance and fewer repetitions.

	Endurance exercises, involving large muscle groups for longer periods, around 50% to 60% VO2Max, to achieve greater cardiovascular endurance.

	Flexibility exercises, achieved through stretching and movement.

	Balance and coordination exercises, focusing on maintaining a person’s center of gravity over their base of support.

All of these categories can be combined into therapeutic exercise programs to restore functionality in many different types of patients.

Different types of exercises can help increase effectiveness or allow participation of individuals with special needs in exercise based on their comorbidities.

At Physio Gatidou, therapeutic exercise programs are strictly individualized based on the needs, stage of rehabilitation, and exercise capacity of each individual.

We monitor each participant’s effort and re-evaluate them so that the program can progress gradually, aiming for optimal recovery and prevention of possible complications.

The therapeutic exercise programs we prescribe may include exercises for:

Aerobic capacity and exercise endurance

Strength and power

Range of motion and soft tissue stretching

Agility training

Body biomechanics training

Breathing improvement

Neuro-motor development activity training

Movement pattern training

Coordination of movements

Developmental activity training

Neuromuscular education or re-education

Perceptual training

Relaxation and recovery