One of the principles roles of the Physical Therapist is the restoration of function for those who have suffered injury. A key element in the rehabilitation process is the selection and application of the most appropriate therapeutic exercises that will aid in the restoration of normal function. Therapeutic exercise is a blanket term most frequently used to describe active or passive activities that assist in the improvement of range of motion of a joint or in the increase in strength of a specific muscle or muscle group.
The following pages have been created as a resource to jump start your thinking about therapeutic exercise and provide 2-3 activities that are designed to increase range of motion and 2-3 activities that are designed to increase strength in a given joint direction.
These pages are not designed to replace medical advice from a trained professional but have been created for the use of physical therapists, physical therapy students or their assistants. Please consult your doctor before beginning or adapting any therapeutic exercise program.
Therex By Joint and Motion Direction
The Lower Limb
| The Hip | The Knee | The Ankle | The Foot/Toes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hip Flexion | Knee Flexion | Plantarflexion | Toe Flexion |
| Hip Extension | Knee Extension | Dorsiflexion | Toe Extension |
| Hip Abduction | Inversion | ||
| Hip Adduction | Eversion | ||
| Hip Internal Rotation | |||
| Hip External Rotation |
The Upper Limb
| The Shoulder | The Elbow | The Wrist | The Hand/Fingers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoulder Flexion | Elbow Flexion | Wrist Flexion | Finger Flexion |
| Shoulder Extension | Elbow Extension | Wrist Extension | Finger Extension |
| Shoulder Abduction | Forearm Pronation | ||
| Shoulder Adduction | Forearm Supination | ||
| Shoulder Internal Rotation | |||
| Shoulder External Rotation |
