Introduction :- The Mat program involves the patient in activities incorporating both movement and stability.
.The range from single movements to complex combinations requiring both stabilization and motion.
. Mat activities are given to
-facilitate balance
-Promote stability
-Mobilize and strengthen the trunk and limb
-Train for functional activities.
Mat Exercise
-Rolling ( supine to prone)
- Prone on elbow
-Quadrupod
-kneeling
- kneeling standing
- Half standing
-Standing
Rolling
- Patient lies in supine position.
-Patient flexes his head neck and right shoulder
- Right arm is moved towards left side to create momentum
- The momentum of arm is transferred to trunk and lower limb
-The lower half of body will be rolled to prone position flexion of hip and knee with facilitate the roll
- Patient takes his right shoulder at the back side by putting weight on left forearm and thus weight is distribution on both upper limb.
- Patient lies prone
Prone on elbow
- Patient lies prone and places his elbows close to trunk.
- Elbows are pushed down while lifting head and upper trunk
- Now patient brings the elbow to the level of shoulder and body weight is shifted through elbow
Quadruped Position
In this position, trunk lies horizontal to ground and body weight is distributed over both hands and both knees. It is also called as prone kneeling position. This is the first sequence in mat activities that allow weight bearing through hips.
This position helps to initiate control of muscle of lower trunk and hips. This position can either be achieved from prone on elbow position or from long sitting position.
Kneeling
- Patient moves the hand backward towards knees in prone kneeling position
-knees are further flexed
-Pelvis is dropped towards heel
-Patient sit on heel
-Patient support his upper limb on therapist's shoulder
-By thrusting with his upper limb and extending his neck and hips patient rises himself to kneeling position
Kneeling Standing
In kneeling standing support him from behind with your arms over the front of his shoulders and your hands behind each side of his pelvis.
Move his weight sideways over his affected leg with his trunk lengthening on that side and his hip kept well forward. Repeat the movement to the sound side
The patient should practise holding the position with the weight fully over each side with less and less assistance
-Also in kneel standing the patient takes steps forward and back with his sound knee, while keeping his affected hip stable
Half kneeling
Half kneel standing - tapping with sound foot
The patient steps forward with his sound foot and practices activities balancing in half kneel standing support
- for example tapping lightly on the floor with his foot.
Standing
The patient can get up from the floor by kneeling up on both knees, stepping forward with his sound foot and standing up
-Assistance is given by the therapist placing hand under his shoulders to guide him well forward as he pushes up to standing.