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Physical Therapy Equipment For Home & Office

By: Gary Gordon A patient who is undergoing rehabilitation is also likely to be conducting physical therapy at the same time. This requires the use of various pieces of physical therapy equipment both in the therapist's office and in the patient's home. Exercises will be recommended by the therapist which the patient can easily replicate in his own home. These strength building exercises prescribed by the physical therapist need to be adhered to and complied with on a regular basis. In order to fully comply, the patient will need to purchase for home use the physical therapy equipment required by the therapist as well.

Before deciding upon physical therapy equipment for home use, the patient should consult with his therapist to ensure that he is purchasing the right piece for his size and injury type. The many different pieces of equipment are sized for differences in height and girth among patients. Knowing the patient's height and weight is vital to finding and using the right equipment for him. Equipment such as exercise balls come in different sizes based upon the patient's height. Other pieces, like treadmills are more easily adapted to patients of all sizes. If a patient is looking for a treadmill for home rehabilitation, he will need to find a room where the treadmill will be permanently placed. If no such place exists, then the treadmill should be easily folded and lightweight enough for the patient to move it alone without straining. For those undergoing physical therapy, though a fixed model is preferable since it will prevent injury from moving the unit. It will also encourage the patient to keep abreast of his physical therapy exercises, such as daily walking or cardiovascular activity.

Physical therapy often leads to recovery by rebuilding lost muscle and strength. It does this through the use of resistance physical therapy equipment. For the muscles to build, they must be worked. The therapist will have the patient do the exercises with resistance, but the patient should never feel that he is straining. Many pieces of equipment offer resistance. The patient might use dumb bells or resistance bands. The therapist could also use the patient's own body weight as a resistance force by having the patient do exercises, such as push ups or sit ups, on a floor mat.

Prior to investing in any type of physical therapy equipment, an individual should work together with his/her therapist or doctor to develop set routine(s) with measurable goals and timelines. The routine may vary in difficulty and duration as the individual makes progress towards recovery. Initially, simple exercises built around resistance bands and resistance tubing, should, over time, evolve into progressively longer and more challenging exercises using dumbbells and balance boards. Many types of physical therapy exercise equipment are also portable and can be used equally well at home and in an office setting. This in turn will allow you to have continuity with your physical therapy routine and will help to get you on the road to full recovery faster.