Exercise Therapy

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Exercise therapy

Available at St. Albert, Windermere, Royal Glenora, Capilano Rehabilitation Centre, Old Strathcona, and Sherwood Park locations.


at leading edge we keep the physical in physical therapy

At Leading Edge Physiotherapy, our physiotherapists have extensive training in medically indicated exercise. In fact, many of our therapists have Bachelor Degrees in Kinesiology (the science of human movement) prior to receiving their Master’s training in physical therapy.

Exercise has been medically proven to be beneficial in a multitude of areas.

Some of the benefits of exercise in rehabilitation:

  • Increased blood flow to the affected area
  • Decreased stiffness
  • Prevents muscle atrophy and restore muscular strength
  • Lengthens shortened muscles
  • Restores proprioception (Balance)

At Leading Edge medically prescribed exercises are an important portion of your rehabilitation and care.

Medical exercise is often utilized for the treatment of chronic conditions and acute injuries.

These may include:

  • Core stabilization for lower back pain
  • Postural exercises abnormalities and dysfunctions
  • Shoulder proprioceptive stabilization programs for instability (dislocations)
  • Pre-and post-surgical exercise such as for total hip and knee replacement surgeries, anterior cruciate ligament tears, rotator cuff repairs, ORIF and more
  • Stability and flexibility training for whiplash injuries following motor vehicle accidents
  • Strengthening after acute sports injuries such as ankle sprains and hamstring strains
  • Postural exercises abnormalities and dysfunctions
  • Restorative and performance enhancing exercises

In addition to our medical background in exercise prescription, our facilities maintain the latest equipment to assist a patient in meeting their goals.

Endurance / cardiovascular

These exercises work your entire circulatory system including the heart and lungs. They encourage efficient delivery of blood, oxygen, and important nutrients to muscles and vital organs. By increasing your heart rate and making the body work harder, you can help create a stronger and more efficient system. Endurance / cardio exercises are also important to boost your metabolism and burn more calories which can assist with weight-loss. Activities such as walking, running, swimming, cycling, dancing and skating can all provide these beneficial effects. We start all our training at an intensity that is appropriate to your current fitness level and progress to more vigorous activities.

Flexibility

These exercises are important to maintain and/or improve the ROM of muscles and joints. Flexible muscles and joints allow us to get into and out of different positions comfortably. They also help to prevent injury by absorbing forces and dispersing energy. Flexible muscles work efficiently in both static and dynamic situations. When combined with appropriate strength, a flexible muscle can produce greater torque which leads to greater power output.

Strength

Muscle strength is what keeps you upright and moving. Sufficient strength is important for posture, balance, and all your daily activities. Strength training helps you build lean muscle mass, increase metabolism, and reduce body fat. Strength training can be accomplished by using weights, resistance bands, or even your own body weight.

Balance

Balance training leads to improved performance by increasing both agility and stability. This type of exercise is appropriate for a wide range of individuals. For athletes wanting to improve their sport performance, to individuals recovering from surgery, to those who would like to prevent falls or the use of a cane/walker; proficiency in this area is very important.