MOBILISING EXERCISES

Mobilizing exercises are a fundamental component of the rehabilitation
process since they enhance normal tissue healing and are necessary to
load the soft tissues progressively, thus enabling them to more effectively
withstand the stresses and strains that they will encounter during normal
functional use.

Mobilizing exercises can be used to  maintain or increase range of
movement, for which the causes are numerous. These causes include:

• Contractures of the joint capsule.

• Adhesions within the soft tissues.

• Muscle spasm or tightness.

• Neural sensitivity and inhibition due to pain.

Physiotherapists often use mobilizing exercises in conjunction with other
treatment modalities such as passive movements, heat, electrotherapy and
soft - tissue techniques, depending on the presenting symptoms ot the client

 Exercises are divided into the following classes:

1. Passive Exercises

2. Active assisted Exercises

3. Auto assisted Exercises

4. Active Exercises

5. Stretching (including hold/relax).


               Definitions of terms

👉Delayed - onset muscle soreness (DOMS). A dull, aching sensation that following unaccustomed muscular exertion. Soreness usually peaks 24 48 hours after exercise .

👉Kinematic chain. Closed: an exercise performed where the distal part of the limb is fixed (e.g. squats with feet on the floor). Open:an exercise where the distal part of the limb is able to move freely in space (e.g. a biceps curl with a free weight) .

👉Muscle contracture. The adaptlive shortening of muscle or other soft tissues that cross a joint, which results in limitation of range of motion

👉Muscle spasm. A persistent muscle contraction that cannot be voluntarily released.

👉Muscle spasticity. A condition associated with hyperactivity of the stretch reflexes and tendon jerks, probably due to loss ot inhibitory influences on the alphamotor neurons .

👉Muscle tension. An increase in resistance to passive movement of a joint.

👉Muscle tone. The resting tension of a muscle, clinically determined as resistance to passive movement or to deformation.

👉Myalgia. Pain felt within a muscle.

👉Proprioception. The specialized variation of the sensory modality of touch that encompasses the sensation of joint movement (kinaesthesia) and joint position (joint position sense) .

👉Stretching.Any therapeutic manoeuvre designed to lengthen pathologically shortened soft-tissue structures and thereby increase range of motion .



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