Exercises used in physical therapy fall into three main categories.
When a person has suffered an injury or trauma, or developed a musculoskeletal condition, there is usually a loss of range of motion in the affected area. This is due to formation of scar tissue or the shortening of muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints. As time goes by and the scar tissue matures or the structure becomes more stiff, there is a further loss of range of motion in the affected area. In such case, the physical therapy exercises employed would be designed to stretch the scar tissue or the stucture that has contracted so as to increase range of motion. After a serious injury or operation, a patient will often find that the muscles around the afflicted area have atrophied and become weakened.