Each rehabilitative exercise is individually catered to patients depending on their condition and functional goals. Generally, we believe most patients do well when we help them rehab for stabilization and proprioceptive training of the lower limb. Some of the objectives for these include:

1. To help improve motor control and strengthen stabilizer muscles such as transverse abdominus (TvA), multifidus, and hip abductor muscles
2. Improve lower limb alignment during activities of daily living

Some examples of exercise protocols prescribed to patients include:

1. Clam exercise
2. Side lying hip lateral rotation and extension
3. Single leg stance
4. Quadruped hip extension and lateral rotation
5. Planks (from knee then progress to full plank)
6. Hip lateral rotation utilizing resistance band

Along with stabilization exercises, we also use yoga stretches in our exercise prescription. The combination of stabilization, strength, and flexibility exercises enhances the activation of certain muscles in core, hip, trunk, and lumbar spine.

Our muscles work in an agonist and antagonistic system, when one muscle contracts, there is another pair of muscle that relaxes, for example, biceps and triceps. When your biceps are flexed, your triceps relaxes. Massage therapy works to strip out muscles that are continuously contracting and to encourage blood flow.

Previous surgery can leave scar tissue which can cause residual pain and limit range of motion, receiving regular massage therapy can help to reduce pain from scar tissue and may help to increase mobility or flexibility.

Chiropractic treatments allow patients to return to their activity of daily living sooner, as well as, managing acute, and chronic pain.

Harvest Pointe Chiropractic and Integrative Health Centre uses evidence-based treatments and provide exceptional patient care in Edmonton, AB.

When patients are involved in their care, we see better results. This is referred as active care. By involving active care in our patient’s treatment plan, where patients perform their prescribed exercises at home, we tend to see positive changes in their functional, performance, and strength capabilities. Furthermore, a propensity to reinjury decreases. As well, incorporating exercise to the trunk and lumbar spine muscles further enhances the benefits of spinal manipulation therapy or manual therapy.

Most rehab exercises that our chiropractors prescribe requires very little equipment, mainly an exercise mat and sneakers are needed. If an exercise equipment is required, such as resistance band, it is usually available at the clinic for purchase, or we can direct you to a health store where such items are available.

Your chiropractors are trained to grade the exercises and provide modifications that do not cause harm to your body. Remember, these prescribed exercises are meant to decrease pain and help improve performance or activity of daily living. It is important to let your chiropractor know if exercise intervention exacerbate your pain.

However, if you have pain while performing the prescribed exercises:

1. Immediately cease the exercise
2. Apply heat, ice, or topical ointment to the area that is injured
3. Call our office and speak to our therapist so that we can provide further instructions

Of course! Our therapists prescribed exercises to further enhance your treatment experience. It is for your own benefit to participate in these exercises so that you can get the full extent of the healing and wellness process.