What is exercise therapy?
Exercise therapy is all about the use of specific stylized movements to improve the functional capacity of structures within the body system. Exercise therapy provides a means of improving posture, strength and flexibility. Exercise therapy is one of the most important and effective treatments for reducing and preventing pain. Exercise causes the body to release chemicals such as endorphins and encephalin, which block pain signals from reaching the brain.
Exercise therapy approaches are based on improving the body's tolerance to mechanical wear and tear that occurs on a daily basis, with the overall aim of reducing the pain you experience from your various daily activities. The therapy involves eliciting motion of the body or its parts in order to relieve symptoms and improve function. Specific stretching, strengthening, and stabilization exercises are a critical part of the rehabilitation process for most musculoskeletal injuries. Continued exercise is an important component of injury prevention. Exercise Therapy is an inexpensive and effective way to speed your recovery, recover and maintain range of motion, stabilize your spine and help prevent a relapse.
ScienceDaily (Mar. 12, 2005) — Exercise therapy can improve muscle strength, mobility and other signs of fitness in people with multiple sclerosis, according to a recent review of studies.

How will you benefit from exercise therapy?
Exercise therapy also offers general health benefits for people, regardless of whether or not they are suffering from pain.
Patients who exercise strengthen muscles and increase the range of motion in joints. Exercise programs can have special benefits for those suffering from various types of pain, such as back pain, neck pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia and lupus.
Most exercises fit into one of three categories: • Flexibility. These include range-of-motion and stretching exercises that help ease movement in the joints. • Aerobic capacity. Exercise that helps strengthen the heart, lungs and muscles associated with the cardiovascular system. • Strength. Exercises that help build strong muscles.
Exercise therapy is beneficial for those with: • Low back pain • Slipped discs • Hip problems • Frozen shoulders • Knee pain • Shin Splints • Sciatica • Foot ailments • Neck problems • Aches and pains
The benefits of exercise therapy are: • General body balancing • Increases range of motion • Retrains damaged muscles • Strengthens spinal structure • Speeds rehabilitation

What are the uses of exercise therapy?
The use of exercise as a form of therapy is for promoting psychological or physical well being. Running, cycling, and swimming are often used as psychotherapeutic tools. During rehabilitation from illness or injury, controlled exercise is often a key factor in returning a person to normal activity.
Exercise is a critical component of any wellness goals such as: • Promote weight loss, which can reduce stress in joints and help prevent osteoarthritis • Improve sleeping and energy levels while awake • Increase bone mass, which reduces the risk of injury and osteoporosis • Help prevent heart conditions, diabetes and other diseases • Enhance healing of wounds • Strengthening the heart and respiratory systems • Lowering blood pressure and • Managing stress and moods
People are advised not to begin an exercise program without first consulting a physician or other expert, such as a physical therapist, occupational therapist or certified exercise therapist.
Besides improving the ability to walk, exercise has numerous benefits that also improve the overall health of persons with PAD. Exercise helps maintain an ideal body weight, lowers blood pressure, increases HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol), lowers blood glucose (sugar) in persons with diabetes, reduces triglycerides, and improves the overall condition of the heart and blood vessels.