Types of Therapeutic Exercise

Question 1

Resistive

Answer 1

• Uses isotonic muscle contraction
• Primarily for increasing strength (from fair + to normal)
• Resistance gradually increased and should be no more than muscle can move through complete ROM
• PRE’s (progressive resistive exercises)- a specialized type of resistive exercise: three sets, one each at 50%, 75%, and 100%

Question 2

Active

Answer 2

• Uses isotonic muscle contraction (resistance is weight of the limb)
• No resistance is used
• Used for improving strength (in poor to fair muscle grades)
• Can be done with out without gravity eliminated

Question 3

Active Assistive

Answer 3

• Uses isotonic muscle contraction
• Goal is to increase strength (of trace or poor grades) as well as maintaining ROM
• Patient moves through range that he is able and therapist (or device, such as a skateboard) assist with the rest
• Can do in gravity eliminated or with gravity and

Question 4

Passive

Answer 4

• No muscle contraction
• Purpose is to maintain ROM and prevent contractures, adhesions, deformity
• Therapist moves the joint through normal range manually: can be done mechanically also, CPM:
  continuous passive motion device (skateboard can be used)

Question 5

Passive stretching

Answer 5

• Used to increase ROM when there is a loss of ROM
• Not with spasticity
• Gentle pressure applied at end range
• Must be careful to avoid causing pain and joint problems
• Used with stiff joints

Question 6

Isometric

Answer 6

• Can be used with or without resistance
• Without resistance — used to maintain strength when active movement is not possible or contraindicated; “setting” the muscle
• W/ resistance– used to increase strength; applied by therapist or table
• Def: muscle contraction that produces force with no change in the angle of joint
• Ex: arm against desk