Exercise
Therapeutic (for treatment) exercises
Most injuries or pain a musculoskeletal physiotherapist treats are mechanical of musculoskeletal origin. Medication helps a lot initially but the main treatment and prevention of such problems rely on mechanical (physical) means. In the acute stage or initial phase of treatment, patients rely more on passive treatment of manipulative techniques. As signs and symptoms improve, patients should be more proactive. Therapeutic (for treatment) exercises or self-treatment techniques eventually play a more major role so patients could TREAT THEIR OWN problems. Patients have to understand that most mechanical problems could not recover 100%. The percentage of recovery depends on the appropriate treatment given and patient compliance. The more they may self-manage and self-treat, the more they may recover and prevent recurrence. Mechanical causes of their problems will always be around, e.g. prolong sitting, bending, use of the computer, heavy lifting, sports etc. It is impossible not to re-injure again if the same causing factor has occurred. How could we possibly guarantee a butcher that his nasty wound would not be chopped open again? A Plastic surgeon with the finest stitches? The answer is of course obvious. He has to take very good care of the wound as instructed by his doctor but most of all, to avoid chopping himself again. He may have to relearn how to use his chopping knife more safely. A full treatment program for a musculoskeletal injury is therefore not just to provide pain relief. Patients must understand the sources and causes of their injuries so they may participate in their recovery and prevention of recurrence. A set of individually tailored therapeutic exercises must be given instead of a simple general advice of 'exercise'. It is not uncommon to see acute lumbar (low back) disc protrusion from sit-up crunches, shoulder impingement from swimming, patello-femoral (knee cap) syndrome from Tai Chi, neck strain from Yoga head-stand etc due to over dedication to one single 'good exercise' without a good combination of different type of exercises:
--Postural exercises --Mobility exercises
--Self-mobilization exercises --Stretching exercises
--Stability exercises --Strengthening exercises
--Proprioceptive (sense of balance) exercises --Coordination exercises
--Conditioning exercises --Cardio-vascular exercises
Luck LI
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist
--Postural exercises --Mobility exercises
--Self-mobilization exercises --Stretching exercises
--Stability exercises --Strengthening exercises
--Proprioceptive (sense of balance) exercises --Coordination exercises
--Conditioning exercises --Cardio-vascular exercises
Luck LI
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist