-IBIS-1.5.0-
rx
exercise
Frenkel exercises
physical medicine
definition
Frenkel exercises
principle: to regain coordination by utilization of other senses
1. lying position: flexion and extension of each leg at the knee and hip joints; abduction and adduction with the knee bent; later, abduction and adduction with the knees extended
2. flexion and extension of one knee at a time with the heel raised from the bed
3. knee flexed and heel placed upon some definite part of the other leg; for example, on the patella, the middle of the leg, ankle and toes; these exercises may be given by changing the heel from one position to another or by calling for extension between different placings (like the neurological heel-to-knee test)
4. knee flexed, heel placed on knee of other leg, heel to flexed leg gliding down the tibia to the ankle joint and back to knee
5. flexion and extension of both legs, together with knees and ankles held close together
6. flexion of one leg during extension of the other (reciprocal movement)
7. flexion or extension of one leg during adduction and abduction of the other; when the performance of these exercises becomes easy, the patient should repeat them with eyes closed
8. from sitting positions the patient tries to place his foot definitely in the hand of the operator while the operator constantly changes hand position; exercises may be given by means of special apparatus, consisting of a board with holes in which to place the heels and a bar which may be placed across the bottom of the bed at different heights and varying distances; the patient is encouraged to place his heels in the holes; the position of the board is changed after each attempt
9. the patient maintains the fundamental sitting position for a few minutes at a time
10. raising each knee alternately and placing the foot firmly on the ground upon a traced footprint
11. the patient is taught to rise from a chair and sit again with knees held together
12. foot placings forward and backward on a straight line; these exercises should be followed by walking maneuvers; e.g. walking along a zigzag strip following markings
13. walking between two parallel lines
14. walking, placing each foot on tracing on floor which should be marked in fairly close adduction position, straight line walking (not toe out)
(Ed. Basmajian, Caillet, p. 417-418)
footnotes