Therapeutic Exercises for Recovery

When an injury sidelines you, one of the first questions you may have is, “how soon can I get back to normal life?” Much of that depends on the type of injury and treatment, but a significant portion also depends on how you approach therapeutic exercises for recovery. Therapeutic exercises provide a great tool in making sure that you return to your pre-injury activities in the shortest time possible.

Hand injuries present multiple challenges. In addition to being painful, not having the full use of the hands can make it very difficult to perform even the simplest daily tasks. Restoring strength and range of motion in the hands is critical to returning to normal life, whether you’re dealing with an athletic injury, a repetitive motion injury such as carpal tunnel syndrome, or a diagnosis of arthritis. Therapeutic exercises for recovery from hand injuries can include activities as simple as making a fist, up to gripping and pinching exercises using resistance.

Foot and ankle injuries are common and can happen anywhere. That missed step or hole in the yard that you didn’t see can land you in pain. Therapeutic exercises can help you recover strength, flexibility and balance. Stretches can help bring the flexibility back, and some simple resistance exercises, such as lifting a towel with your toes, may help recover strength.

Knee injuries are among the most common that we see. That’s because the knee is one of our most-used joints. Over the years, our knees experience a lot of wear and tear from daily use, even for those who don’t participate in sports. Because so much depends on our knees, therapeutic exercises are key to help alleviate pain as well as recover from injuries. Your physical therapist will likely include exercises such as leg lifts, squats, or walking exercises.

Hip pain interferes with life in many ways, making it difficult to stand or walk. It can mean missing out on activities as well as memories with children or grandchildren. Therapeutic exercises, such as groin stretches and leg raises can help recover strength and flexibility in the hip so you can make those memories.

Shoulder injuries can be very painful and have long recovery times. It’s imperative to use therapeutic exercises to shorten recovery times and ensure the best possible outcome. It’s especially important in major procedures, such as a rotator cuff repair, which can take several months to rehab. Exercises for shoulders can include stretches and small movements that help restore mobility and flexibility.

Chronic pain presents just as many problems as injury for millions of Americans, and unlike injuries, which may be recoverable, patients often have to learn to live with chronic pain long-term. Therapeutic exercises can help decrease pain and inflammation, as well as increase mobility to provide relief for chronic pain. Cardiovascular exercises, such as walking and swimming, as well as relaxation techniques and stretching can help.

Spinal injuries and chronic back pain can be debilitating conditions if not properly treated, and a key ingredient in that treatment is therapeutic exercises to help you strengthen the muscles of your back and reduce spinal pain. Activities such as stretching, walking and body weight bearing exercises, such as body lifts, may be prescribed to help with this.

While you can see that therapeutic exercises for recovery are a key part of returning from chronic pain or injury, there’s a reason that it’s called a recovery plan. Safety and precautions should be part of that plan. Here are some tips to make sure you don’t overdo it.

You’re not going to recover from an injury in a day, and pushing yourself to your limits may cause more harm than good. Start slowly and work your way toward your goals according to your plan.

If you are having trouble or something just doesn’t seem right while you are performing your therapeutic exercises, talk about it. If your body is telling you that something is wrong, your plan may require some changes.

Injuries can be frustrating and take an emotional toll. Talk to your doctor about realistic goals and timetables so you are fully prepared going in and get support for your recovery. Most of all, cut yourself some slack.

The physical therapy team at Pontchartrain Orthopedics and Sports Medicine can help you create the right plan for therapeutic exercises for recovery. They can teach you the correct techniques to make sure that you stay safe and on the best possible path to full recovery.  Contact one of our clinics in Metairie or Boutte today to see how we can help you start to reclaim your life.