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General:
Exercise
as Part of Care
Regime
Overview
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Exercise and activity are the basis of life for the muscles.
Muscles that do not move soon undergo wasting or atrophy and become replaced
by scar tissue which shortens the muscles, twists the joints out of shape
and progressively leads to deformities, infirmities and disabilities of
later years.
Whether
a
person has partial disabilities or fully dependent on your care, exercise
is necessary to up keep his well-being and prevent muscles wasting.
Exercise does not need to be intense in order to improve health and avoid
disability. Every activity, such as walking outdoors, is exercise
and should be engaged in to the fullest. Among the benefits that
can be achieved with exercise are improvement in joint pain and mobility,
reversal of muscular atrophy (wasting), and increased bone mineral density
that reduces the risk of fractures from osteoporosis.
Before commencing
on any kinds of exercises, consult your healthcare professionals on the
types of regimen that is suitable for the
person. Any benefit
from it comes about only if the program is followed. With adequate
compliance, physical therapy or exercise performed at home is as effective,
less expensive, and more convenient than supervised programs.
Tips in
Keeping an Exercise Plan
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Understand
the importance and benefits of exercise.
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Encourage
social interaction with exercise groups, physical therapists, or personal
trainers.
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Regular follow-up
to adjust the regimen according to feedback as to its initial efficacy.
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Active
Range of Joint Motion Exercises
A person on
bed rest should have active range of joint motion exercises incorporated
into his daily schedule. The person can perform these exercises during
activities of daily living. You should also plan interventions for
the gradual return of mobility for person who will be able to resume normal
activity.
Below are some active range of joint motion exercises that you can incorporate
into the person's activities of daily living.
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Active Range of Joint Motion
Exercises
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Nodding or
shaking head exercises neck.
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Moving right
ear to right shoulder or left ear to left shoulder exercises neck.
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Rotating shoulders
towards chest or towards back exercises shoulder.
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Eating, bathing,
shaving, and grooming exercises elbow.
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All activities
requiring fine motor coordination, such as writing and eating, exercise
fingers and thumb.
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Walking exercises
hip, knee, ankle, and toes.
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Rolling toes
inward or outward exercises hip.
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Pointing toe
toward head of bed or foot of bed exercises ankle.
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Wiggling toes
exercises toes.
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Passive
Range of Joint Motion Exercises
If the
person
does not have voluntary control of his hands and legs, you may perform passive
range of joint motion exercises to prevent excessive muscle wasting and
joint contractures. These exercises can be incorporated into
person's
activities, such as bathing, and should be done at least two or three times a day.
However, if only one extremity is paralyzed, the
person can be taught to
be independent by using his unaffected hand or leg to assist the
affected extremity in the range of motion exercises.
Some orthopedic
conditions require more frequent passive range of motion exercises to restore
the injured joint's function post-operatively. A person with such
conditions may use automatic equipment for passive range of joint motion
exercises. The equipment extends an extremity to a prescribed angle
for a prescribed period. This is beneficial when the
person must
gradually increase the degree and duration of extension.
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