Group exercise, physiotherapy, first year bpt topic, health, fitness, health promotion, bachlors of physiotherapy

1. Group Exercise
Dr. Mumux Mirani
Asst. Professor
MPT Sports
SSAIP

3. What is group exercise???

4. Group exercise
The physiotherapist has to give full attention to a patient
while giving passive movements but active exercise can be
taught and supervised either individually or with others in
a group.
Exercises can be divided into three according to the
number of patient’s being treated;
 Individual exercise
 Group exercise
 Mass exercise

5. Individual exercise

6. Individual exercise
 One patient treated at a time as each patient’s problem
differs in some respects from other individual.
 Done in hospital wards, home, clinics or departments
 Treatment aimed at patient’s rehabilitation by
correcting & improving imbalance of muscle strength,
limitation of range of motion & co-ordination.
 Here therapist improves the independence of patient
along with training self-care activities.

7. Advantages of individual exercise
 Full attention to a patient eliminates incorrect
method of practice.
 Encouragement to give opportunity to practice
on his own.

8.  Too much attention results in that patient rely
on the therapist to be present as a stimulus to
activity.
 Time consuming factor as only one patient is
treated at a time & so more effort is required.
Disadvantages of individual exercise

9. Group exercise
 Small number of patients (6 to 8) with same disability will get
treatment at same time.
 This provides opportunity for patient to practice activities he
“can do” to build up his endurance & increase the speed of his
performance.
 In group exercise, the pattern of exercise should be taught to
the whole group simultaneously & give time for the patient to
practice.
 Let the patient do the exercise with assistance or resistance
according to the patient’s need.
 Group exercise aims at giving right exercises at the right time &
in right way.

10.  Selection of patient: Proper selection of patient is necessary. Any
patient who exposed to exercise at home according to his capacity can
be a member of suitable group.
 Grading of groups: Groups are formed according to the location &
nature of disability, age group & sex of the patient & are graded
according to the nature & strength of the exercise performed. For
example – traumatic injury- non weight cases/ full weight bearing
cases.
 Weight lifting and pulleys: Patients needed resisted exercise for
various parts of the body can work together under the direction of
physiotherapist. Re-grading must be made at frequent intervals
requires skilled assessment by the physiotherapist and success in
treatment method.
Organisation of group exercise

11.  Explanation to the patient: Before joining the group, the
patient must be given preliminary instructions about
exercise & explanation of the purpose of exercise with
regard to his disability.
 Confidence must be gained so he can report whatever
happening to him.
 Let patient to watch a group at work, allow taking part in
some exercises with the help of physiotherapist treated
him as individual.
 Technique of instruction: Command of the therapist
should be loud & clear.
 It should be same as individual exercise.

12.  Patient learns to take responsibility of his own exercise & so is encouraged
towards adequate home practice.
 Patient learns to work with others & no longer considers himself apart
from his fellowman because of disability.
 Patient gets confidence in treatment & so is stimulated to further effort
because of stimulation from co-members of group.
 Patient gets confidence in his ability to hold his own with others when
group performs some exercises in union.
 Effort is stimulated by some activities which call for a mild form of
competition.
Advantages of group exercise

13.  Patient forgets his disability temporarily by objective &
game like activities which are possible in group
treatment.
 Working in group induces conversation & laughter which
in turn leads to relaxation of mind & body which is so
essential for effective rehabilitation.
 While performing in group, patient learns mutual
interdependence as they work with & against each other.
 From therapist’s point of view, his time is saved as many
patients are treated at the same time & so less effort
is required.

14.  Misunderstanding of exercise may lead to improper
exercise.
 Faulty selection of patient, inadequate explanation to
patient, lack or inefficient grading of groups,
overcrowding of persons & poor technique of
instructions are the commonest cause of failure to
benefit the patient.
Disadvantages of group exercise

15. Mass Exercise
 Exercise performed by large number of persons to a formal
word of command or a rhythm dictated by an instructor with
little or no assistance or correction can be given to the
individual.
 In contrast, in group exercise there is concentration on needs
of individual with utilization of stimulation which results from
working with others.
 Mass exercises are useful for giving general body exercise & all
patient can perform uniform movement.
 example – Army training exercise
- Yoga camp

16.  Mass exercise are usually given in final phase of
rehabilitation to improve general activity of
patient, to improve blood circulation, to increase
endurance & exercise tolerance & above all to
improve discipline of patient by working
uniformly with others.
 Main disadvantage of mass exercise lies in that
it can not give individual attention to needs of
people.

17. Any questions???

18. Thank you…