Exercise Prescription

What Is It?

Exercise/rehabilitation is increasingly being shown by the research to be one of the most effective methods of removing pain and preventing reoccurrence following an injury or medical condition.

Providing patients with individualised and progressive exercise plans is one of the most crucial skills that physiotherapists possess. It empowers people to help facilitate recovery, manage symptoms and prevent future problems. It is important that you try and complete the exercises you are provided as regularly as possible to help with your recovery. Rehabilitation exercises are not always a quick fix, but if done consistently over weeks and months then they will, in most cases, make a significant difference.

More generally, range of motion and strengthening exercises are important in maintaining function and having longevity throughout life. Increasing research shows resistance training to be one of the keys to maintaining function and independence as we age.

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Creating Tailored Programmes

When looking to create a programme your physio will consider a range of factors that include: any current and previous injuries/conditions, what equipment or facilities you have available, your goals and how much time you can commit to your programme. From here, they will recommend a course of exercises that they feel will best suit your needs. It is important, however, that this is a 2-way process and that you discuss any concerns or challenges.

It is vital that whatever is agreed is then completed consistently for you to achieve results and in our experience, this is only possible when we agree together a programme that works for you.

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Recent Research

Exercise prescription has been shown to be beneficial by the research for a wide spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions. The sections below highlight some of that research for some of the common conditions we come across. As mentioned already this can be applied to just about any condition we treat and you should discuss what is best for your condition with your specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapist.

Specifically, but not limited to older adults, a well-devised resistance training programme has a multitude of benefits including increased muscle strength and power, improved mobility and function, preserved independence and performance with daily activities, enhanced resistance to injury, reduced likelihood of falls and can also benefit psychosocial wellbeing (2).

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Upper Body

Back Pain

Shoulder Pain

Elbow Pain

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Lower Body

Knee Pain

Foot & Ankle Pain

References

  1. Cullinane, F. L., Boocock, M. G., & Trevelyan, F. C. (2014). Is eccentric exercise an effective treatment for lateral epicondylitis? A systematic review. Clinical Rehabilitation, 28(1), 3-19.
  2. Fragala, M. S., Cadore, E. L., Dorgo, S., Izquierdo, M., Kraemer, W. J., Peterson, M. D., & Ryan, E. D. (2019). Resistance training for older adults: position statement from the national strength and conditioning association. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 33(8).
  3. Fransen, M., McConnell, S., Harmer, A. R., Van der Esch, M., Simic, M., & Bennell, K. L. (2015). Exercise for osteoarthritis of the knee: a Cochrane systematic review. British journal of sports medicine, 49(24), 1554-1557.
  4. Gordon, R., & Bloxham, S. (2016, June). A systematic review of the effects of exercise and physical activity on non-specific chronic low back pain. In Healthcare (Vol. 4, No. 2, p. 22). Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute.
  5. Hoogvliet, P., Randsdorp, M. S., Dingemanse, R., Koes, B. W., & Huisstede, B. M. (2013). Does effectiveness of exercise therapy and mobilisation techniques offer guidance for the treatment of lateral and medial epicondylitis? A systematic review. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 47(17), 1112-1119.
  6. Lewis, J., McCreesh, K., Roy, J. S., & Ginn, K. (2015). Rotator cuff tendinopathy: navigating the diagnosis-management conundrum. Journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy, 45(11), 923-937.
  7. Lim, H. Y., & Wong, S. H. (2018). Effects of isometric, eccentric, or heavy slow resistance exercises on pain and function in individuals with patellar tendinopathy: A systematic review. Physiotherapy Research International, 23(4), e1721.
  8. National Institute of Health and Care Excellence. (2014). Osteoarthritis: care and management. Clinical Guideline [CG177]. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg177/chapter/1-Recommendations#education-and-self-management-2/. [Accessed 18/11/2020].
  9. Øiestad, B. E., Juhl, C. B., Eitzen, I., & Thorlund, J. B. (2015). Knee extensor muscle weakness is a risk factor for development of knee osteoarthritis. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Osteoarthritis and cartilage, 23(2), 171-177.
  10. Owen, P.J., Miller, C.T., Mundell, N.L., Verswijveren, S.J., Tagliaferri, S.D., Brisby, H., Bowe, S.J. & Belavy, D.L. (2020). Which specific modes of exercise training are most effective for treating low back pain? Network meta-analysis. British journal of sports medicine, 54(21), 1279-1287.
  11. Rathleff, M.S., Mølgaard, C.M., Fredberg, U., Kaalund, S., Andersen, K.B., Jensen, T.T., Aaskov, S., & Olesen, J.L. (2015). High‐load strength training improves outcome in patients with plantar fasciitis: A randomized controlled trial with 12‐month follow‐up. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 25(3), e292-e300.
  12. Searle, A., Spink, M., Ho, A., & Chuter, V. (2015). Exercise interventions for the treatment of chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Clinical Rehabilitation, 29(12), 1155-1167.
  13. Shiri, R., Coggon, D., & Falah-Hassani, K. (2018). Exercise for the prevention of low back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials. American journal of epidemiology, 187(5), 1093-1101.
  14. Wilson, F., Walshe, M., O’Dwyer, T., Bennett, K., Mockler, D., & Bleakley, C. (2018). Exercise, orthoses and splinting for treating Achilles tendinopathy: a systematic review with meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 52(24), 1564-1574.