therapeutic exercise
a regimen of movement exercises prescribed to an individual by a clinician, physical therapist, or other practitioner as part of the individual’s postsurgical convalescence, treatment for a chronic condition, or rehabilitation from disease or injury. Therapeutic exercises are recommended for numerous physical reasons, including to alleviate pain (e.g., postsurgical pain, chronic back pain); to increase cardiopulmonary function following a heart attack or heart surgery; to decrease muscle rigidity caused by movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease; or to improve mobility impaired by stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, or other neurological conditions. A wide variety of exercises is available, but broadly speaking, most are designed to increase physical endurance, flexibility, or strength (e.g., circuit resistance training). Those used for a given individual are determined according to his or her needs and abilities. Therapeutic
exercises also promote psychological health and may be prescribed to reduce stress, induce relaxation, improve mood, increase energy levels, or otherwise enhance psychological function and well-being in individuals, with or without physical challenges, who are susceptible to depression, anxiety, agitation, or other mental health problems.