Strengthening Exercises - Physiotherapy - Treatments

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What are Strengthening Exercises?

Strengthening exercises are exercises which are designed to increase the strength of specific or groups of muscles. Strengthening exercises overload the muscle until the point of muscle fatigue. This force and overload of a muscle encourages the growth, increasing the strength. Weak muscles can increase the risk of injury to the surrounding joints and soft tissues. Physiotherapists at Physio.co.uk will assess, diagnose and provide an appropriate strengthening exercise programme for you.

Above: Our strengthening exercises can be adapted to suit your individual needs

What are the benefits of Strengthening Exercises?

There are many different benefits of strengthening exercises. Some of the benefits of receiving a strengthening exercise programme are:

Muscle strength is improved
Decrease energy expenditure as muscles are more efficient
Reduced risk of injury
Improve function
Improve quality of movement
Delay onset of arthritic conditions

The physiotherapists at Physio.co.uk will offer a comprehensive assessment and strengthening exercise programme. Strengthening exercise programmes can benefit you in many ways. They will increase your confidence in the muscle as you will be able to rely upon it.

Above: Calf raise exercises for strengthening rehabilitaion

What do Strengthening Exercise Programmes Include?

Strengthening exercise programmes will include a variety of exercises designed to target specific groups or individual muscles. These exercises will begin easier and progress as strength is developed. Some of the exercises may involve the following:

Exercising against gravity
Exercising against the resistance of water
Exercising against a resistance band
Exercising with weight
Exercising using your own body weight as the load

Strengthening exercising will only be effective if the muscle is overloaded. These exercises will be functional to the goal you want to achieve e.g. if the goal is to be able to bend down and pick an item up off the floor, the functional exercise would be a squat. This is because non-functional exercises reduce compliance.

Above: Strengthening and toning exercises performed under the supervision of an experienced physiotherapist

Who would benefit from Strengthening Exercises?

There are many people with a variety of conditions and injuries who would benefit from a strengthening exercise programme. Some of the conditions / injuries which would benefit from strengthening exercises are:

Arthritic conditions
Post injury – strength is lost post injury
Pre surgery – increasing strength pre surgery will increase the recovery rate post surgery
Post surgery – as surgery will result in decreased function which will decrease muscle strength
After a period of immobility – muscles start to atrophy if immobile.
Movement dysfunction – strengthening specific muscles can help to correct this
People with poor posture – some muscles become weak and longer whereas others may be overused and become tight due to poor postures.

There are many people who would benefit from a strengthening exercise programme. If you would like further information on strengthening exercises, or to arrange an appointment please call physio.co.uk on 0330 088 7800. You can also make an appointment with us online today!

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