Physiotherapy exercises for people with haemophilia

Physiotherapy helps with faster recovery of damage caused to a muscle or joint due to a bleeding episode.

A physiotherapy program includes all the exercises that aim to the greatest possible recovery of damage in a joint or a muscle.

The design of a physiotherapy program for the joints depends on 3 factors:

Την άρθρωση που αιμορράγησεΤα γόνατα, οι ποδοκνημικές αρθρώσεις και οι αγνώνες αιμορραγούν συχνότερα από τις άλλες περιοχές του σώματος.

Similarly, physiotherapy programs for muscle are based on:

Την άρθρωση που αιμορράγησεΤα γόνατα, οι ποδοκνημικές αρθρώσεις και οι αγνώνες αιμορραγούν συχνότερα από τις άλλες περιοχές του σώματος.

Apart from the above, a program of physiotherapy is being scaled up to levels of difficulty, in order to achieve the strengthening and restoration of joint or muscle bled. In addition, the type of exercises changes over time to suit the changing needs of the individual.For these reasons, it is important that the exercise program is designed and implemented by a specially qualified professional of the Haemophilia Center and that the appropriate exercises are individually selected.

Calendar of personalized exercise program for people with haemophilia

One exercise program cannot meet the needs of all people with haemophilia. Remember that each case is unique. The number of exercises and repetitions depends on the age and physical condition of the person, the time elapsed since the injury and, of course, the type of joint or muscle that has been damaged.

The wrong exercise, an exercise performed in the wrong way, an exercise performed at the wrong time (e.g., too soon after bleeding, or at the stage of recovery), or an exercise performed at the wrong frequency or intensity, can hurt even more the injured tissue.

An inappropriate physiotherapy exercise program at best will be unsuccessful; while at worst will cause more damage to the injured tissue. Therefore, it must always be designed by a qualified professional, considering the specific needs of the individual.

The calendar of personalized program of physiotherapy exercises is a handy tool, which ensures that all parameters for designing the program are taken into account. It is a dynamic over time record of the exercises performed to repair a joint or muscle after a bleeding episode. As the rehabilitation needs of the joints and muscles change over time, this file shows the tolerance of the joint to the changes of the difficulty levels and the number of repetitions.

This calendar is designed by the physiotherapist in collaboration with the patient and their doctor. Sample page of a calendar regarding rehabilitation exercises of the joint, knee and gastrocnemius muscle:

Download here the sample page of the calendar for joint exercises

Download here the sample page of the calendar for muscle exercises

Check here the rehabilitation exercises for the knee joint, the joint of the elbow and ankle joint:

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Previous level 1

Next level 3

Previous level 1

Next level 3

References:

1.WFH. Guidelines for the management of haemophilia. 2012.
Available at: http://www1.wfh.org/publications/files/pdf-1472.pdf [Accessed 24 October 2019].
2.Exercises for people with hemophilia by Kathy Mulder. WFH 2006.
Available at: https://elearning.wfh.org/resource/exercises-for-people-with-hemophilia/

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This information is intended to inform and update the public and may in no way serve as a substitute to consultation with a doctor or other professional health service.