Your Bed Rest Exercises
Date issued: March 2018
For review: March 2020
Ref: B-318/Physiotherapy/HB/your bed rest exercises v3
PDF: Your bed rest exercises [pdf] 705KB
Introduction
This booklet contains general advice to help yourself (and your friends and relatives) during your period on bed rest. If it raises any concerns or worries, please ask.
Doctors, therapist and nursing staff are here to help you and your questions are welcome and encouraged.
Depending on your injuries, your multidisciplinary team will decide upon which movements are suitable for you.
The aim of your bed exercises:
- To help maintain and improve muscle strength
- Help with your ability to relieve pressure area
- Reduced pain and prevent the risk of muscles becoming tight
- To enable you to participate in your rehabilitation
Your exercises:
The following pages contain the exercises your physiotherapists will advise you to do.
Only complete exercises that have been taught to you by your physiotherapist. It is important you do not attempt any exercises you have not been taught by your physiotherapist. He or she will tick the exercises in this booklet for you to complete
There is a daily chart at the back of your booklet to help you keep on track of your exercises. This allows your physiotherapist to progress your exercises as required.
If you are at all unsure, please speak to a physiotherapist prior to starting any exercise.
Drugs:
Painkillers are prescribed and are effective when taken regularly or when you start to notice discomfort or pain. If you wait until your pain is unbearable you may experience unnecessary discomfort. As a result you may then struggle to complete your exercises
Position:
Depending on your level of injury will depend on what position you will be in to complete your exercises. Your physiotherapist will teach you your exercises in the chosen position.
Breathing Exercises
During your time on bed rest and reduced mobility it is important you complete breathing exercises to prevent chest compilations.
Take three or four deep breaths every one to two hours then have a cough and try to clear any phlegm.
Scapular Setting
Relax your shoulder with arms by your side
Draw your shoulder blades together, encouraging your shoulder to touch the bed. Pull your fingers down towards your toes and hold for:..…....seconds
Lower limb Exercises:
1. Static Gluts:
Clenching your gluteal muscles together
Hold for 5 second
Repeat ……….times
2. Ankle Movements:
Point your toes towards the end of the bed and then pull them up towards your head
Repeat 10 times on each foot
3. Active Knee flexion:
Bend and straighten your knee aiming to complete the movement, slowly and controlled.
Repeat ..…… on each leg
4. Inner Range Quads:
Place a pillow, or rolled up towel under knee, allowing it to bend.
Tighten the muscles on the front of your thigh, bringing your heel off the bed causing your leg to become straight.
Hold for …….… seconds
Repeat ……..….times
5. Hip Abduction:
Keeping your knee straight, and your toes pointing to the ceiling, gradually slide your leg out towards the edge of the bed and then return to midline.
6. Static Quad Lying Down:
Tense the muscle on the front of your thigh, making your knee go straight, pushing it down into the bed (push knee into bed)
Hold for ……. Seconds
Repeat ………times on each leg.
Upper limb Exercises:
1. Finger and Hand Exercises:
Close your hand into a fist and the stretch fingers out straight.
Repeat ……..times repeat with both hands
2. Wrist Extension/ Flexion:
Lay your arm by your side palm facing your body.
Move your wrist slowly back and forth as far as you can.
Weight.….……
Repeat ….…. times
3. Elbow Extension/Flexion:
Start with your arm down beside your body. Finish with your hand up near your shoulder. Ensure that your elbow is held beside your body.
Weight.….….
Repeat …….times
4. Supination/ Pronation:
Start with your arm down beside your body with palms facing down; slowly turn palms up to the ceiling.
Repeat……...times
5. Shoulder Flexion:
Lying flat and arm out to the side of your body.
Start with your hand pointing towards the floor. Finish with your hand pointing towards the wall behind you.
Weight…..……
Repeat………times
6. Shoulder Abduction A:
Shoulders abducted and elbows flexed. Instruct the patient to lift the weights above their chest until their elbows are straight and then slowly lower down
Weight….……..
Repeat….…times
7. Shoulder Abduction B:
Shoulder abduct with shoulders with elbow extended.
Weight……
Repeat …...times
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further advice, do not hesitate to contact your physiotherapist on the Neurosurgical Unit
Telephone: 01752 202082
Bleep: 81483
