Using Therapeutic Exercise in Rehabilitation

The Athletic Trainer's Approach to Rehabilitation
-the process of rehabilitation begins immediately after injury
*initial first aid and management techniques can have a substantial impact on the course of the rehabilitative process

-in the rehabilitation program the athletic trainer is responsible for
*design
*implementation
*supervision

-balancing act
*between not pushing the athlete hard enough and being overly aggressive

-daily reassessment of an injury
*allows the rehabilitation plan to be current and appropriate

Goals
-short-term
*controlling pain
*minimizing initial swelling
*maintaining/improving flexibility
*restoring/increasing strength
*reestablishing neuromuscular control
*maintaining level of cardiorespiratory fitness

-long-term
*return the injured athlete to practice/competition as quickly and safely as possible

Therapeutic and Conditioning Exercise
-Therapeutic exercises are concerned with restoring normal body function after injury
-Conditioning exercises are concerned with improving the physical capability of an athlete by a program

Components of a Rehabilitation Program
-minimize swelling
-controlling pain
-restoring ROM
-restoring muscle strength, endurance, and power
-reestablishing neuromuscular control
-regaining balance
-maintaining cardiovascular fitness
-incorporating functional progressions

 

Work Cited

Schneider, Erin. Athletic Trainers' Perception of interval/intermittent Training in Rehabilitation., 2010. ProQuest. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.