Almost everyone, regardless of age, values the ability to function as independently as possible during everyday life. Health-care consumers (patients and clients) typically seek out or are referred for physical therapy services because of physical impairments associated with movement disorders caused by injury, disease, or health-related conditions that interfere with their ability to perform or pursue any number of activities that are necessary or important to them. Physical therapy services may also be sought by individuals who have no impairment but who wish to improve their overall level of fitness or reduce the risk of injury or disease. An individually designed therapeutic exercise program is almost always a fundamental component of the physical therapy services provided. This stands to reason because the ultimate goal of a therapeutic exercise program is the achievement of an optimal level of symptom-free movement during basic to complex physical activities.

To develop and implement effective exercise interventions, a therapist must understand how the many forms of exercise affect tissues of the body and body systems and how those exercise-induced effects have an impact on key aspects of physical function. A therapist must also integrate and apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathology, and the behavioral sciences across the continuum of patient/client management from the initial examination to discharge planning. To develop therapeutic exercise programs that culminate in positive and meaningful functional outcomes for patients and clients, a therapist must understand the relationship between physical function and disability and appreciate how the application of the process of disablement to patient/client management facilitates the provision of effective and efficient health-care services. Finally, a therapist, as a patient/client educator, must know and apply principles of motor learning and motor skill acquisition to exercise instruction and functional training. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to present an overview of the scope of therapeutic exercise interventions used by physical therapists. We discuss models of disablement and patient/client management as they relate to therapeutic exercise and explore strategies for teaching and progressing exercises and functional motor skills based on principles of motor learning.

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