If you know someone who is bedridden, you should already know that this is not necessarily a permanent condition. The causes of this situation can be many and each one will have a reality and limitations to face. Activation exercises for bedridden people revitalize muscles and prevent atrophy.
These patients have multiple needs, both spiritual, mental and physical. They may have suffered serious injuries or major surgery. Physical activity and adequate hygiene become the best allies to recover satisfactorily from sequelae.
When we talk about activation exercises, we mean the ones that they try to stimulate the areas so that they become stronger and do not suffer the consequences of immobility. The main goal is to improve responses to any stimulus.
This has nothing to do with building muscle, but with avoiding serious health problems. We invite you to discover their importance in order to help those in need of these therapeutic exercises.
Importance of activation exercises for bedridden people
The goal is to perform movements of the joints and muscles. For bedridden people, limitations grow with exercise. If they remain immobile for a long time, they can suffer complications, such as blood clots, weakness and fatigue, joint stiffness and even depression.
That is why it is important for bedridden people to perform activation exercises. Although they are simple and light, they help prevent damage, such as bedsores or pressure ulcers. They tend to appear on the heels, tailbone, hips and ankles.
If you can keep your body active, you will favor a simultaneous activation of your mind.
Some activation exercises for bedridden people
The goal is for the patient’s body to remain active and that this benefits the continuity of treatment. If you don’t do the exercises, you will suffer other injuries which will add more problems to your recovery.
These movements stand out for being very simple. The plan is to start them slow, with up to 5 repetitions.
1. Bend the ankle
You can do this whether the person is sitting or lying on their back. The idea is to help her bend her foot, so much so that her toes point towards the ceiling. This movement is so simple that you can combine it with others; for example, lift your leg at the same time.
2. Twist your toes
The goal is to assist the person with every move, but this can be one of the least supportive. Just follow the directions.
The exercise consists of flexing each of the toes, stretching them back and then forward. If the person who is bedridden can’t hear you, you can do it for them.
3. Rotate the ankle
The person may be lying down or sitting, with legs extended. He begins by lifting his leg slightly and begins to rotate each ankle from right to left, drawing a circle with them, clockwise.
Then you can repeat it in the opposite direction, about 4 times in each direction. If it’s within your reach, you can do the movement on both ankles at the same time, or start with one and then switch to the other.
4. Shrug your shoulders
This is a great exercise for practicing while seated.. She will begin to shrug, pretending to bring them to the same level as her ears.
The scope of this movement is limited. For this reason it is good that when you raise your shoulders you can keep them in that position for a few seconds, before returning to the initial position.
Here the patient works the trapeziuswhich are muscles that occupy an area from the neck, to the upper back and up to the shoulders.
5. Withdraw the leg
The intention of this movement is that you can take one of the patient’s legs and slightly lift it up, very carefully. When the leg reaches the height limit, proceed to rotate the ankle approximately 3 times.
Then carefully return the leg. Repeat with the other side that remained stationary. It is recommended that he be sitting and lying down; any option is valid.
6. Push the arm and rotate the wrist
In a sitting or lying position on the bed, this is one of the basic exercises for bedridden people. The point is that you can stretch both arms and pretend to push something away from your body.
After doing 3 pushes, you stop him and start rotating both wrists of his hands. This can be simultaneous or one at a time.
This twist must be developed in both directions of the body. First right, then left or vice versa.
7. Rotate your head and neck
Begin to roll your head from side to side; do it softly and delicately. The idea is that you can feel a slight release of tension and a stretch.
These lateral movements must be supplemented with neck twists. Ideally, the person can feel comfortable doing this while sitting. But with timely support, it can also be performed with the person lying down.
Tips for safely performing activation exercises for bedridden people
Remember that the patient’s treating physician must approve each of these activation exercises.
You have to take into account that the person who is bedridden should have eaten several hours before starting the activities. Otherwise, you endanger your health by being more prone to fatigue and even vomiting.
You should choose the time of day when the person feels most motivated and full of energy to practice them willingly. In turn, you will have to be very attentive to each signal that the patient reveals during the movements. This will tell you whether it is appropriate to continue or stop.
Pay attention to the execution, the number of repetitions and the rest time between them. Most likely, this is how the slightest inconvenience will arise.
The most important thing is that the patient is confined to bed You can feel your body gaining mobility and stamina. Gradually, despite the physical disability, you will have to perceive some improvement.
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