This document describes the equipment and facilities typically found in a therapeutic gymnasium, which is a fitness center located in a physical therapy setting. It contains various machines, equipment, and tools to help relieve pain and cure ailments through exercise. Some of the core equipment listed includes tilt tables, stationary bicycles, parallel bars, dumbbells, medicine balls, and therabands/theratubes. The document provides brief explanations of how each piece of equipment can contribute to physical therapy goals like improving range of motion, strengthening muscles, and reducing pain.
2. In Physical Therapy, Exercise Therapy Unit is also
termed as “Therapeutic Gymnasium”.
The word “therapeutic” means “contributing towards
relief and cure”
and
the word “Gymnasium” is a Greek origin meaning “a
fitness center”.
A Therapeutic Gymnasium can be defined as
“a fitness center where a Physical Therapist
contributes towards relief of pain and cure of various
ailments via exercises”.
OR
A Therapeutic Gymnasium is “a covered location
equipped for physical exercises”.
3. A Therapeutic Gymnasium usually includes:
• Tilt Table
• Quadriceps Table
• Static/Stationary Bicycle
• Wall Bar
• Shoulder Wheel
• Traction Table and Machine
• Continuous Passive Motion Apparatus (CPM) for both Upper and Lower limbs
• Parallel Bars
• Medicine Balls (of various weights usually 1-11 kg)
• Ankle Exerciser
• Balance Board
• Weight Cuffs (of various weights e.g. 150 gm. – 4000 gm.)
• Dumbbells (of various weights usually 1-5 kg)
• Shoulder Pulley
• Jogger
• Finger Ladder
• Vestibular/Physio/Swiss/Gym Ball
• Hand Exerciser/Gripper
• Staircase/Training Stairs
• Bolster
• Therabands and Theratubes
4. TILT TABLE
Improves Proprioception (Joint Position Sense) in Lower Limbs
Reduces Spasticity in Lower Limbs
Helps Orientation of Standing Posture in Head Injury Patients
5. QUADRICEPS TABLE
For Quadriceps and Hamstrings Strengthening and Endurance Training
As a Measure of Progressive Resistive Exercises
6. STATIC/ STATIONARY BICYCLE
To Improve Cardiovascular Efficiency
For Quadriceps Strengthening
Endurance Training of lower Limb Muscles
Reduction of Obesity
7. WALL BAR
For Resistance Training
Flexibility Training
Abdominal Strengthening
Improving Co-ordination Skills
8. SHOULDER WHEEL
Increases Mobility of Shoulder
Strengthen the Upper Limb Muscles
Improves Neuromuscular Co-ordination
9. TRACTION TABLE AND MACHINE
(For Cervical and Lumbar Traction)
Mechanical Elongation of Spine
Facet Joint Mobilization
Muscle Relaxation
Reduction of Pain
10. CONTINUOUS PASSIVE MOTION
APPARATUS (LOWER LIMB)
Improve and Maintain Range of Motion
Improves Fluid Dynamics of Joints
Prevents Adhesion Formation
Reduces Joint Effusion
Facilitates Healing
11. PARALLEL BARS
For Gait Training
For Balance Training
For Postural Training
For Co-ordination Exercises
12. MEDICINE BALLS
Available In Various Weights (1-11 Kg’s)
Helps Exercise Upper Body, Lower Body and Core
Helps Improve ROM, Core Strength, Co-ordination, Joint Integrity and
Flexibility with Upper and Lower Body Strength
13. ANKLE EXERCISER
It is an effective Device to Strengthen Plantar flexors, Dorsi-flexors and
other Foot Muscles
Offers both Eccentric and Concentric Work for both Plantar and Dorsi-
flexor muscles of Foot
14. BALANCE/WOBBLE BOARD
Maintaining Balance
Improve Mobility of Joints in the Foot
Strengthening of Lower Limb and Foot Muscles
Improving Sensory Co-ordination
15. WEIGHT CUFFS
(of various weights e.g.150 gm.–4000 gm.)
To Improve Strength of Different Proximal Muscles of Body and Joints
To improve Co-ordination and Muscle Tone
To Gain Endurance
16. DUMBBELLS
(of various weights usually 1-5 kg)
Strengthening a Particular Move of a Muscle
Endurance Training for Particular Group of Muscles especially Upper
Limb Muscles
For Free Exercises Like Codman’s Pendulum Exercises (with
Dumbbell’s in Hand)
17. SHOULDER PULLEY
Used to perform various Shoulder Exercises to help Improve Range
of Motion in Different Directions
To Decrease Stiffness (in frozen Shoulder Patients)
18. JOGGER
Adds Strength to Muscles
Restores Free Movements of Stiff Joints
Improves Posture and Reduces Fatigue
Develops Endurance and Increases Efficiency of heart and Lungs
20. VESTIBULAR/PHYSIO/SWISS/GYM BALL
Helps Attain Better Posture
Improves Body Awareness and Co-ordination
Increases Balance and Flexibility
Enhances Muscular Endurance and Strength
21. HAND EXERCISER/GRIPPER
Used for Testing and Increasing Strength of Hands
It Helps in Boosting Strength for Other Lifts
22. STAIR CASE/TRAINING STAIRS
Used to Train Patients with Progressive Stepping Post-surgery or Injury
Rehabilitation of Lower Extremities for Patients with Knee Injuries
Stairs are Designed Ergonomically and Provides a Comfortable Grip
Stairs are Lined with Anti-slip Material that Prevents Slip During
Rehabilitation
23. BOLSTER
(Available in Various Size and Shapes)
Long narrow pillow/cushion filled with cotton
Provides an unstable surface that helps achieve greater activation of
core musculature.
Primarily used in treating Toddlers with Cerebral Palsy
24. THERABANDS AND THERATUBES
Made Up of Stretchy Material Available in Variety of Colors with varying
resistance
Used For Low Impact Strength Training Exercises
Commonly Used In Physical Therapy and by Athletes