An exercise that helps one person improve strength or mobility may not suit someone else. Even when two people have similar symptoms, their physical abilities, medical history, balance, and recovery needs can differ greatly.
This is why personalised physiotherapy exercises are important. Rather than following a routine simply because it worked for someone else, it is better to understand what your body needs and which movements are appropriate for your individual circumstances.
Whether you are recovering from an illness, managing joint discomfort, experiencing reduced mobility, or looking to maintain your independence as you get older, choosing the right exercise programme can make a meaningful difference to your rehabilitation journey.
Why Does Everyone Respond Differently to Exercise?
Exercise affects people in different ways because no two people have exactly the same physical abilities, health conditions, or rehabilitation goals.
For example, a person who regularly walks and exercises may find standing exercises manageable. Someone who has recently spent time in hospital or has difficulty maintaining balance may need a gentler starting point.
Several factors can influence which physiotherapy exercises are appropriate.
1. Current Strength and Physical Fitness
Muscle strength and endurance affect how comfortably a person can perform everyday movements.
Someone with good leg strength may be able to perform repeated sit-to-stand exercises with little difficulty. Another person may need support from a stable chair or a modified version of the same movement.
Starting with exercises that match your current ability can help you build strength gradually without placing unnecessary demands on your body.
2. Medical History and Existing Health Conditions
A person's medical history can influence the type, intensity, and frequency of exercise they can safely undertake.
For example, someone recovering from surgery may have specific movement restrictions. A person living with arthritis may need their exercise programme adapted according to their symptoms and joint function. Someone with a heart or lung condition may need advice about appropriate activity levels.
This is why exercises found online should not automatically be treated as suitable for everyone. If you have a medical condition or are recovering from an injury or operation, seek appropriate professional advice before starting a new exercise programme.
3. Balance and Risk of Falling
Balance is an important part of many everyday activities, including standing, turning, walking, and using stairs.
An exercise that requires standing on one leg or moving without support may be challenging for someone who feels unsteady.
In these situations, a physiotherapist may recommend supported exercises, changes to the starting position, or supervised practice, depending on the person's assessment and needs.
The aim is to work on balance and confidence while taking appropriate precautions.
4. Pain, Stiffness, and Joint Mobility
Pain and stiffness can affect how a person moves and how much activity they can comfortably tolerate.
For instance, deep squats may not be an appropriate starting point for someone who has difficulty bending their knees. A modified movement or a different exercise may be more suitable, depending on the cause of their symptoms.
Exercise should be adapted to the individual's condition rather than forcing a movement that causes significant discomfort.
New, severe, or worsening pain should be assessed rather than ignored.
5. Recovery Stage and Daily Activity Levels
A person's exercise needs can change as their condition improves or their circumstances change.
Someone in the early stages of recovery after an illness or operation may need a different programme from someone who has already regained much of their strength and mobility.
Likewise, people who spend long periods sitting or have recently reduced their activity levels may need to begin gradually before progressing to more demanding movements.
A suitable exercise programme should be reviewed and adjusted as the person's abilities, symptoms, and goals change.
Why Following Someone Else's Exercise Routine May Not Work for You
Online videos, social media posts, and general exercise guides can provide useful information. However, they cannot always account for your individual health needs.
An exercise that is appropriate for one person may be too demanding, too easy, or unsuitable for another.
Following a routine without considering your own circumstances may lead to unnecessary discomfort, poor technique, frustration, or an increased risk of injury.
For example:
Chair exercises: These may be helpful for some people who need a supported starting point, but the movements and repetitions still need to suit their abilities.
Balance exercises: The level of support required depends on a person's balance, confidence, and fall risk.
Strength exercises: Resistance and repetitions should reflect current strength, symptoms, and exercise tolerance.
Stretching exercises: The appropriate movement and range depend on joint mobility, flexibility, and any relevant medical restrictions.
The important point is not that general exercises are always unsuitable. It is that they should be selected and adapted according to the individual whenever health or rehabilitation needs require it.
How Does a Physiotherapist Choose the Right Exercises?
A physiotherapist considers more than a person's age or the symptoms they describe. The aim is to understand how the person moves, what they find difficult, and what they want to achieve.
A physiotherapy assessment may include the following.
Understanding Your Health and Medical History
The physiotherapist will discuss your symptoms, relevant medical conditions, previous injuries or operations, current activity levels, and any restrictions that may affect exercise.
This information helps identify important considerations before an exercise programme is planned.
Assessing Strength, Balance, and Mobility
Depending on your needs, the assessment may look at walking, standing up from a chair, joint movement, balance, muscle strength, or other everyday activities.
These observations can help identify areas that may benefit from rehabilitation and whether exercises need to be modified or supervised.
Setting Practical Rehabilitation Goals
Physiotherapy goals should reflect what matters to you.
You may want to walk more comfortably, manage stairs, get up from a chair more easily, improve balance, or return to everyday activities after an illness.
Clear, realistic goals help guide exercise selection and provide a way to review progress.
Adapting and Progressing Your Exercise Programme
Exercises may be adjusted according to your ability, symptoms, and response to activity.
This could involve changing the starting position, using support, reducing the number of repetitions, adjusting resistance, or gradually increasing the challenge when appropriate.
A physiotherapist can also review your technique and help determine when an exercise needs to be changed.
Can Home Physiotherapy Help You Find the Right Exercises?
For people who find travelling to a clinic difficult, home physiotherapy can provide an opportunity to receive professional support in their own surroundings.
At Home Physio Experts, physiotherapy support can be tailored to a person's individual needs, goals, and functional abilities.
A home-based assessment can help the physiotherapist understand how you manage everyday movements in your usual environment. This may be particularly useful if you have difficulty walking, experience reduced mobility, are recovering from illness, or need support with rehabilitation at home.
Depending on the assessment, your physiotherapist may help you:
Identify exercises suited to your current abilities and goals.
Work on strength, mobility, balance, or functional movements where appropriate.
Understand how to perform recommended exercises correctly.
Progress your programme in a planned and manageable way.
Review your progress and discuss any difficulties with your exercises.
Not everyone needs the same type or level of physiotherapy. The most appropriate approach depends on your individual assessment and health needs.
How Do You Know If Your Exercise Programme Needs Reviewing?
It may be worth seeking professional advice if you find that your current exercises are consistently too difficult, do not address your main functional difficulties, or become uncomfortable in ways you do not understand.
You may also benefit from a review if your mobility has changed, you have developed new symptoms, or you are unsure how to progress safely.
Stop an exercise that causes sharp or significant pain, dizziness, chest pain, or unusual breathlessness. Seek urgent medical help for potentially serious symptoms, particularly chest pain or severe breathing difficulty.
If you are recovering from surgery or an illness, follow the instructions provided by your treating healthcare team and seek their advice before changing prescribed activity restrictions.
Choose Physiotherapy Exercises That Work for You
The best exercise programme is not necessarily the most challenging one or the routine recommended to the greatest number of people. It is the one that is appropriate for your health, current abilities, rehabilitation goals, and stage of recovery.
With suitable assessment, guidance, and regular review, exercise can form an important part of working towards improved strength, mobility, and everyday function.
If you are unsure which exercises are suitable for you, professional guidance can help you make informed decisions about your rehabilitation.
Book a Home Physiotherapy Assessment With Home Physio Experts
Are you finding everyday movements difficult, recovering from an illness or injury, or unsure which exercises are right for you?
Home Physio Experts provides home physiotherapy support for people who need help working towards their mobility and rehabilitation goals.
A personalised assessment can help identify your needs and determine an appropriate way forward.
Contact Home Physio Experts to discuss your requirements and arrange a home physiotherapy assessment.
Call: 07438 605593 | 07448 114009
Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not replace individual medical advice, diagnosis, or a physiotherapy assessment. Exercise suitability varies according to personal health and functional ability.