Exercise rehabilitation

Content Author: Dr. Paul Hermann — Osteopath and Exercise Scientist

Whilst studying Osteopathy, Paul completed his Master's research studying the ‘Effectiveness of Swiss Ball Training on Lower Back Stability’, before authoring the popular book ‘Effective Swiss Ball Training’. Paul thirst for knowledge, and to find more ways for people to “feel good”, lead him to additionally complete a Master's in Exercise Science.

As a therapist, he has applied this principle to his clinical work with patients. As a lecturer, teaching Exercise Science and Rehabilitation at RMIT and Victoria University, and international presenter he has been able to pass on this principle to many thousands of students and other allied health practitioners and Doctors.

The goal of any exercise rehabilitation program is to safely restore the patient to pre-injury function, to help remove any barriers that may exist that could put the patient at risk of re-injury, and help them build the 'buffers' that will help reduce these risks. In many instances where pre-injury functional capacity is not achievable, the goal becomes maximisation of the best function possible for that patient with their own specific set of circumstances and limitations. It is essential during every phase of their rehabilitation to consider the complete health and well-being of the patient. Through using a biopsychosocial approach, we must assist them to improve, or at least maintain their overall health and well-being through clear understanding of their limitations and capabilities for the phase of rehabilitation they are in at that time. This process is often challenging with the influences and desires of coaches, parents, employers and other people, along with achieving the required compliance from the patient to complete the full rehabilitation process.

For these goals to be achieved, we require a partnership between practitioner and patient. The patient needs have a clear understanding of their condition/injury, how it came about, why it came about, where they are in the rehabilitation continuum, and what will be required to progress through each stage/phase in that continuum to restore their function as best as possible, and to reduce the risk of re-injury.

The purpose of this module is to teach you the model(s) by which all rehabilitation programs are based. It will help you understand and determine where the patient is positioned in the exercise rehabilitation continuum, where and how they need to progress through the phases, and as such give specific plans and prognoses, and empower your patient to be an active member of your team to their recovery.

Estimated CPD Hours: Three hours

Disclaimer: Content correct at the time of publication.