It is often believed that effective rehabilitation requires complex equipment or fully equipped gyms.
In reality, the home environment is rich in valuable tools: a chair, a step or a simple wall can become essential therapeutic aids.
Under the professional guidance of a physiotherapist, it is possible to carry out targeted therapeutic exercise programmes, ensuring safety and technical precision.
Below are five fundamental activities organised by muscle groups.
1) Upper limb strengthening with stable support
Using the armrests of a chair or the edge of a stable piece of furniture, table or sofa, pushing exercises are performed to strengthen the upper limb muscles.
Under physiotherapist supervision, movement control is emphasised to avoid compensation through the neck or shoulders.
This exercise is essential for improving daily activities that require pushing or supporting the body with the arms.
2) Posterior chain strengthening in quadruped position
Using a bed surface or a mat, alternating opposite arm and leg lifts are performed while maintaining a four-point position.
This activity strengthens the spinal extensors, gluteal muscles and scapular stabilisers.
The physiotherapist ensures a neutral spine, preventing pelvic rotation or excessive lumbar arching, thereby improving overall trunk stability.
3) Core activation and abdominal stability
Using a bed or mat, exercises are performed to activate the deep abdominal muscles.
The focus is on maintaining pelvic stability while executing small, controlled movements of the arms or legs.
The physiotherapist guides breathing and muscle coordination, promoting the development of a natural “corset” that supports load management during daily activities.
4) Squats or sit-to-stand for quadriceps strengthening
This exercise involves standing up and sitting down correctly from a chair to strengthen the thigh muscles.
Physiotherapist guidance is essential to correct weight distribution and knee alignment.
Using the patient’s own chair allows specific training of a functional movement crucial for mobility independence.
5) Calf strengthening on a step
Using the first step of an indoor staircase allows strengthening of the lower leg muscles.
This activity transforms a common architectural feature into an effective training station to improve push-off and stability during walking.
The value of professional home supervision lies in these details.
Although online exercise videos are easily accessible, correct execution of therapeutic exercise requires clinical assessment.
The presence of a physiotherapist at home is essential to adapt load to the patient’s current health condition, correct errors in real time and structure a rehabilitation programme that integrates seamlessly into daily routines, reducing the risk of injury or inefficient compensations.
