When you are recovering from injury, your doctor may often recommend physical therapy, which can help to treat the pain and discomfort felt during movement. Physical therapists asess your current condition and help your return to your normal activity levels. As part of your program, your physical therapist may recommend a home exercise program. For this reason, many physical therapy exercises use mobile exercise equipment. This makes completing your exercises easy and will help get you back on track quicker.
Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are often use to help patients regain strength, range of motion and flexibility within injured body parts. They can be used for the feet, legs, hips, shoulders, arms and neck. They come in a wide variety of resistances and allow patients to work from light to heavy resistance as they recover. Resistance bands are lightweight and inexpensive. They travel well and are frequently given to patients to use during home exercise programs.
Weights
Lightweight dumbbells are frequently used to treat patients with injuries and weaknesses in the upper extremities. Weights help to increase strength and range of motion. Light weights are inexpensive and can be used virtually anywhere. Physical therapists will often recommend that patients invest in a set of light weights to use at home as they recovery. Physical therapists who travel to patients' homes for therapy will also frequently use weights.
Walking Assistants
Walkers, crutches and canes are frequently used to help injured individuals with gait training. Gait is the pattern of movement of your limbs as you walk. These devices help individuals improve their balance, strength and recall the normal range of motion for their legs as they begin to walk again. Before being sent home from a hospital or rehabilitation center, a physical therapist will make sure you can correctly use a walker, crutches or cane.
Assistive Belts
Assistive belts prevent patients from falling while learning to walk and performing daily activities. The belt is wrapped around the patient's waist. There are two straps for a physical therapist to grab onto should the patient begin to fall or need assistance while learning to walk. These belts travel easily and can be used for patients who have a home physical therapist.
