Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Exercise Flashcards

What is the primary goal of rehabilitation after a sports injury?

Answer: To restore optimal function and mobility

The overarching goal of rehabilitation following a sports injury is to restore the injured athlete to their pre-injury level of optimal function and mobility. This involves a comprehensive approach to reduce pain, improve strength, flexibility, balance, and proprioception. The aim is to enable a safe return to sport and daily activities without re-injury.

Which type of exercise is most appropriate in the early phase of rehabilitation?

Answer: Isometric

In the early phase of rehabilitation, when tissues are healing and pain may be present, isometric exercises are often most appropriate. Isometric contractions involve muscle activation without joint movement, which helps to maintain muscle strength and prevent atrophy without placing excessive stress on healing tissues or causing pain. This allows for controlled muscle engagement while protecting the injured area.

What does proprioception training help improve?

Answer: Joint awareness and coordination

Proprioception refers to the body's ability to sense its position, movement, and action. Proprioception training, often involving balance and stability exercises, helps improve joint awareness, coordination, and the body's ability to react to changes in position. This is crucial for preventing re-injury, especially after ligamentous injuries, and enhancing athletic performance.

Which exercise is best suited for restoring range of motion (ROM)?

Answer: Dynamic stretching

Dynamic stretching involves moving a joint through its full range of motion in a controlled manner, such as leg swings or arm circles. This type of exercise is highly effective for restoring and improving range of motion because it actively moves the muscles and joints, increasing flexibility and preparing the body for movement. It contrasts with static stretching, which holds a position, or ballistic stretching, which can be too aggressive for early ROM restoration.

What is a key benefit of aquatic therapy in rehabilitation?

Answer: Provides low-impact resistance and support

Aquatic therapy, or hydrotherapy, is highly beneficial in rehabilitation due to the unique properties of water. Buoyancy reduces the impact and weight-bearing stress on joints, making exercises less painful and safer for injured individuals. Additionally, water provides natural resistance, allowing for strengthening exercises without the need for heavy weights, and its hydrostatic pressure can help reduce swelling.

Why is progressive overload important in rehabilitation?

Answer: To stimulate recovery through gradual challenge

Progressive overload is a fundamental principle in both training and rehabilitation, meaning that the body must be continually challenged with increasing demands to adapt and improve. In rehabilitation, this involves gradually increasing the intensity, duration, or complexity of exercises to stimulate tissue healing, strengthen muscles, and restore function. This controlled progression is essential for achieving full recovery and preventing re-injury.