Remedial gymnastics

Remedial gymnastics (also medical gymnastics ) is an umbrella term for physical therapy (physiotherapeutic) movement exercises. These can be carried out passively , assistively , actively or resistively . Remedial gymnastics is traditionally performed and / or instructed by a physiotherapist (formerly: physiotherapist). The term therapeutic gymnastics is also used synonymously in physiotherapy with the terms kinesitherapy or exercise therapy. The MTD law (law of medical-technical services, Austrian legislation) defines physiotherapy (mechanotherapy, kinesitherapy) as movement therapy with all movement-therapeutic concepts and techniques as well as perception training and manual therapy of the joints. These include, for example: PIR techniques (post-isometric relaxation techniques), PNF (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation), manual concepts (e.g. Maitland, Sachse, Kaltenborn, Cyriax, etc.), techniques for mobilizing connective, nervous, and muscle tissue (fascia techniques, osteopathic mobilization techniques, craniosacral mobilization, etc.). The field of medical training therapy is also assigned to therapeutic gymnastics. This also includes device-supported physiotherapy (MTT medical training therapy) and working with aids such as therapy bands, exercise balls or tilting boards.

Remedial gymnastics can be viewed as an area of physiotherapy .

Special (passive, assistive, active or resistive) exercises and / or manual measures carried out by the therapist are used to mobilize the body and structure, to improve posture, to regulate (e.g. strengthening, stretching, coordination) the muscles or nerves and increase the patient's body awareness .

In the orthopedic environment, for example, therapeutic gymnastics is used to prevent and eliminate damage to the postural and musculoskeletal system. In the areas of internal medicine, it extensively promotes the functionality of the circulatory system, for example through circulatory and pulmonary function training (respiratory therapy).

Areas of application for therapeutic gymnastics include:

• Orthopedics
• surgery
• neurology
• Pediatrics
• Pregnancy gymnastics
• Osteoporosis gymnastics
• Rehabilitation exercises (after accidents and operations )
• Pulmonology

The healing of affected body regions should be consciously and intensively promoted and also accelerated through therapeutic gymnastics. (see: rehabilitation , sensorimotor skills ).

In this sense, it is related to the various forms of traditional Far Eastern therapeutic gymnastics ( Qi Gong, etc.), which have enjoyed great popularity in Europe especially since the last 20 years of the 20th century and are successfully incorporated into European forms of physiotherapy methodology .

History of therapeutic gymnastics

Klingert's device (1810)

Remedial gymnastics movement exercises are already for the time around 2500 BC. Traceable in China. In the second century AD, the Greek doctor Soran , who was active in Rome, described exercise methods with pulling and pulling through constructions with belts and pulleys in order to alleviate symptoms of extremity paralysis. For the treatment of trauma surgery patients, the surgeon Ambroise Paré published, among other things, special movement therapy measures in the 16th century. Karl Heinrich Klingert from Breslau was one of the first to devise and build mechanical aids for therapeutic gymnastics in modern times . In 1810 he published a device that was similar to today's rehab devices ( Shake Weight ). With her you could train your arms and legs at the same time.

In 1875, Carl Hermann Schildbach was the first doctor to qualify for therapeutic gymnastics.

Web links

Commons : Remedial Gymnastics  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Federal Act on the Regulation of Higher Medical-Technical Services (MTD Act) (NR: GP XVIII RV 202 AB 615 p. 78. BR: AB 4332 p. 557.)
2. ↑ Physiotherapy: (Vol. 3) Psychology, pedagogy, sociology, apprenticeship, scientific work, history. Hueter-Becker et al. Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1996
3. ↑ The New Thinking Model in Physiotherapy, Volume 1: Movement System. Antje Hüter-Becker (editor), Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 2006
4. ↑ Arnd Krüger : History of movement therapy. In: Preventive Medicine. Springer Loseblatt Collection, Heidelberg 1999, 07.06, pp. 1–22.
5. ↑ Ambroise Paré: Opera Chirurgica. Frankfurt 1575, chapter 15 ( Du movement et repos )
6. ↑ Markwart Michler : From the history of movement therapy. Würzburg medical history reports 24, 2005, pp. 195–221, here pp. 195–197, 202 f. and 209
7. ^ Jung, Michael: Karl Heinrich Klingert. Diving history compendium, Merzig-Weiler 1998.

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