Kinesiotherapy: what it is, who can help, what it includes

Kinesiotherapy is a therapeutic technique that helps people recover from injuries and improve physical condition with the help of movement. The system is based on the activity of the person himself. It includes exercises aimed at restoring motor functions and general strengthening of the body.

Who will be helped by kinesitherapy

This method is useful for a wide range of people:

• Patients recovering from injuries and surgeries.
• People with chronic diseases of the joints and spine, such as arthritis or osteochondrosis.
• Elderly people to maintain mobility and prevent injury.
• People who lead a sedentary lifestyle to improve posture and get rid of back pain.
• Athletes to prevent injuries and improve physical performance.
• Children with improper development of the musculoskeletal system.

Features of kinesitherapy

What are the peculiarities of kinesitherapy techniques:

• The exercise program is selected individually for each person, taking into account his diseases and physical condition.
• Kinesitherapy includes various types of exercises: stretching, strength training, balancing and others.
• It teaches proper movement. This helps to avoid future injuries, in daily life to walk, sit and run in a physiologically correct manner.

Types of kinesiotherapy:

• Mechanotherapy. Special exercise machines are used to help develop muscles and joints.
• Manual kinesitherapy. The therapist works on the patient's body with his hands, helping to restore movement in the joints.
• Therapeutic physical therapy. Exercises aimed at strengthening muscles and joints.
• Aqua-kinesitherapy. Exercises are performed in water, which reduces stress on the joints and makes movements smoother.

What is included in kinesitherapy

A kinesiotherapy program may include:

• A warm-up to prepare muscles and joints for exertion.
• Stretching exercises to improve flexibility and prevent muscle stiffness.
• Strength exercises to strengthen the muscle corset, which is important for maintaining proper posture and protecting joints. These can be exercises with your own body weight, such as squats, push-ups or planks. Also use dumbbells, resistance bands or special exercise machines to add load.
• Coordination exercises to develop balance and improve neuromuscular coordination. These are exercises that help you feel and control your body. For example, a person may be placed on one foot and asked to close their eyes or toss a ball while standing on a balance board. All of this trains the ability to maintain balance and teaches proper body weight distribution.
• Breathing exercises to improve circulation and oxygen supply to the tissues.
• Relaxation exercises to release tension and recover from exercise. After vigorous exercise, the body needs rest and recovery. Relaxation exercises are a way to help the body relax. It can be deep breathing, slow stretching movements, progressive muscle relaxation, when a person sequentially tenses and relaxes different muscle groups.

All of these exercises combined create a kinesitherapy program that helps the body recover and become stronger. A kinesitherapist always takes into account a person's individual characteristics, health and needs to find the most appropriate and safe exercises.