Exercise Rehabilitation

When considering the role of tailored exercise programs, it’s highly likely a person with pain has attempted stretches or exercise before as part of an initial treatment program. There are many types of exercise programs, these range from aquatic and hydrotherapy, core exercises, Clinical Pilates and yoga, resistance or weights programs, and cardiovascular exercise (step count walking, swimming etc).

From a patients’ experience, these techniques may or may not have been initially helpful, or simply weren’t as effective as time went on. The usefulness of any exercise for pain can often be attributed to what type is prescribed at which part of the patient’s treatment journey, and how consistent the patient is at completing the exercises as part of their daily regime.

Current evidence shows that movement really is medicine - however there is no “one size fits all” recipe. With persistent pain rehabilitation there is an individualised need to balance exercise protocols for each pain sufferer, to ensure maximum effects for one’s strength, flexibility or mobility, whilst minimising the risk of flare-up from over-doing it.

The best practice is to progress exercises to those which are ultimately simulating activities of daily living for each person. Our specialists role is to individualise each patient’s exercise program to ensure maximum results in the most rapid time-frame, whilst understanding and working with one’s pain behaviour.

Physio4Pain programs encompass our exercise rehabilitation services for activities specific to the client, and based on graded exposure principles. Programs options often include a progressive variety of exercises which enables patients (regardless of their current capacity) to commence building on their functional levels.

These may include hydrotherapy, home-based exercises, Clinical Pilates, resistance based/gym exercises, and more specific work-related lift and load training.