Wellness Prevention Programs and Therapeutic Exercise Term Paper

Wellness/Prevention Programs and Therapeutic Exercise

Therapeutic exercise can not only increase overall wellness of participants, but may also prevent or reduce serious complications from disease and acute injuries. A direct link between exercise and its effects on wellness and disease prevention has been revealed through various studies related to health and physiology. Therapeutic exercise can not only help patients recover more swiftly from acute injury, but can also prevent serious illness and degeneration in otherwise normal youths and adults. Therapeutic exercise can also increase gains and outlook for patients suffering from chronic diseases, or even more importantly, contribute to disease prevention. The link between therapeutic exercise and wellness/prevention programs is explored further below.

Therapeutic exercise has been shown to directly benefit victims of acute illness and injury. A recent study of stroke patients who received a structured and progressive therapeutic exercise programs as part of their treatment protocol revealed much quicker recovery and gains for participants than for patients who did not receive any therapeutic exercise as treatment (Reuters & Stroke, 2003). The study reported in Stroke involved a randomized control study of 100 stroke patients, all of whom participated in a series of 90 minute therapeutic exercise sessions during a 12-week period (Reuters & Stroke, 2003). The exercises targeted increased flexibility, strength, balance and endurance among other factors (Reuters & Stroke, 2003).Patients participating in the exercise program realized balance and functional gains, indicating that therapeutic exercise does indeed have wellness implications for victims of serious disease (Reuters & Stroke patients are but one example of a group that can benefit from therapeutic exercise as part of an overall wellness program.

Therapeutic exercise programs may prevent disease or serious injury from occurring in people as well. One population that may find therapeutic exercise most beneficial is the aging/elderly population. In a study conducted by the American Board of Family practice, examiners revealed that therapeutic exercise may prevent deterioration and improve the quality of life for elders, who typically suffer more chronic illnesses (Heath, 2002). The study concluded that exercise is in fact "an underused therapeutic intervention for elders" (Heath, 2002). The study further suggests that physicians begin to prescribe therapeutic exercise as a strategy for wellness and a tool for prevention of serious illness (Heath, 2002).

Therapeutic exercise is obviously beneficial for the aging population, who typically become increasingly inactive as they get older. This inactivity can prolong pain and exacerbate already chronic illnesses in patients within this population. Exercise, when prescribed as a "specific therapeutic intervention for the many accumulated chronic illness of frail elders," has been shown to improve the overall wellness and general health of participants (Heath, 2002). Therapeutic exercise.....