Exercises with a clear purpose
An exercise program should connect to something you want to do: climb stairs, lift at work, return to training or feel more confident moving. Your osteopath can explain what each exercise is intended to improve, how to perform it and how its difficulty will change.
Establishing your starting point
Assessment may include relevant movement, strength, balance and task tolerance. Tell the clinician about your health conditions, recent surgery, previous injuries and any medical restrictions. Discuss the equipment, space and time you have so the plan is practical between appointments.
Progression and review
A program may change the movement range, resistance, repetitions, recovery or task complexity. The progression should reflect the condition and your response. Ask which symptoms are acceptable during exercise, what should prompt you to stop, and who to contact if something changes.
Keep a brief record of the exercises completed and how you feel afterwards. This can make a review more useful than relying on memory. If progress stalls, the plan may need adjustment or further assessment.
Mobility and balance
Difficulty with everyday movement deserves an individual assessment. Goals may involve getting out of a chair, using stairs or building walking confidence. New dizziness, unexplained falls or a sudden change in balance should be discussed with a doctor; not every balance problem is musculoskeletal.
Clinical Pilates and rehabilitation
Some people prefer supervised exercise or Pilates-based work. Suitability depends on your goals, symptoms and health history. See Clinical Pilates or ask reception about assessment and current options at Epping.