Therapeutic Exercise
Therapeutic exercise is a set of exercises prescribed by a physical therapist to restore strength, flexibility, balance, endurance and stability after an injury, illness or surgery. At our Chubbuck, Idaho clinic, Matt Krammen, PT, DPT, Cert DN, PT, an orthopedic physical therapist, builds exercise plans for patients from Chubbuck and Pocatello.
More than recovery after surgery
When people hear "physical therapy," many assume surgery. Physical therapy goes well beyond post-surgical care. It restores strength, endurance, flexibility and stability to people who have been injured, are in pain or have been ill.
The goal of any exercise program is to leave you feeling healthier and stronger than when you began. Therapeutic exercise shares that goal, with a wider range of activities to help you regain or maintain strength, flexibility, balance, endurance or stability. It is typically part of a physical therapy treatment plan, and it can help prevent impairment and disability while improving overall fitness.
Six kinds of exercise, each with a purpose
Each exercise is classified by what it is for.
Range of motion
Active, passive or assisted stretching to help your joints and soft tissues move better without pain.
Muscle performance
Resistance and endurance exercises to build strength without injury, which supports balance, stability and bone and joint health.
Posture
Hours at a desk or over a keyboard, poor muscle tone or habit can lead to poor posture, which affects strength, balance and injury risk. These exercises correct posture in daily life, not just during the workout.
Balance and coordination
Standing, walking, cooking and brushing your teeth all test how your muscles and skeleton work together. These exercises matter most after an injury or illness.
Relaxation
Muscles need to relax too. Heat, cold, electrical stimulation, massage or Trigger Point Therapy can help the body relax and improve sleep.
Area-specific work
Exercises that target breathing or circulation may be recommended to help healing, blood flow or lower stress on the body.
Why we ask you to move when it hurts
It can seem backward to exercise when you are in pain. But treating pain with medication and rest alone lets the supporting muscles weaken, which can cause more pain and less function in the area.
A physical therapist evaluates your function, strength and range of motion, along with your pain levels during basic tasks, and then builds a customized plan. It can strengthen weak areas, restore function to healing or surgically repaired joints and reduce overall pain, with greater strength and endurance than before.
How exercise fits with the rest of your care
Exercise often goes alongside Manual Therapy, Dry Needling and Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM), and it is part of recovery for conditions like Back Pain, Knee Pain, Shoulder Pain, Sports Injury Rehab and Post-Surgical Rehab rehab.
We see patients from Chubbuck and Pocatello. Idaho allows direct access to physical therapy, so you do not need a referral from a doctor to begin. Some insurance plans, and Medicare typically, may still require one. If you are unsure, call us and we will check your plan. We accept most insurance plans and verify your benefits before you arrive. Auto injury liens, Medpay and workers compensation are accepted, and there is a self-pay option. Call the office to confirm your plan.
Therapeutic exercise in Chubbuck, Idaho
Call or request an appointment at our Chubbuck clinic. We see patients from Chubbuck, Pocatello and the surrounding area.
We see patients at our Chubbuck clinic from Chubbuck and Pocatello, Idaho.