Exercise Therapy

This book explores the use of exercise in the treatment of the above conditions.

The use of exercise in the prevention of many of these conditions is also documented.

This emphasis on prevention as well as treatment is essential. Physical inactivity is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease, while physical activity can positively effect risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and obesity.

As health professionals, it is our responsibility to advise when necessary on the positive health benefifits of exercise and prescribe an appropriate programme. To recommend a programme of exercise, knowledge of the assessment of physical activity is required. It is also important to be aware of factors that inflfluence participation in exercise. This text examines these issues so as to optimise the physiotherapist’s exercise prescription.

During the assessment of patients the physiotherapist may discover that lack of physical activity may be a contributory factor to the presenting complaint.

Patients who have been prescribed exercise may present with comorbities such as pain in weight bearing joints which require consideration in the prescription of exercise. With their clinical background, physiotherapists are uniquely placed to manage such scenarios. This text aims to enable the physiotherapist to manage conditions through the use of exercise as a preventative measure and as a treatment modality.

In editing this book we hope we have provided the reader with a useful text that informs both the undergraduate student and the clinician. It will also provide a reference text for students in the areas of health promotion, sports science, physical activity and exercise rehabilitation.