MTT

Medical Training Therapy

Medical training therapy (MTT) is an active, holistic, guided form of physiotherapy. It is based on training science principles from sports and rehabilitation. MTT is proven effective for a wide range of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, such as back and neck pain, multiple sclerosis, stroke, osteoarthritis, craniocerebral injuries, and Parkinson’s disease. Medical training therapy can train patients’ strength, endurance, speed, coordination, and balance. The training focus can be individually adjusted for each patient.

How does Medical Training Therapy work?

Depending on the patient, their underlying disease, complaints and physical condition, the methods and possible use of equipment for physical development vary. The training always takes place under the supervision of our physiotherapists. Initially, exercises are usually done so that patients learn easily and quickly. This allows them to practise some exercise units independently. Usually, the therapy involves three phases:

1. Assessment:
   First of all, the patient’s condition, medical history, and physical abilities are evaluated by our physiotherapists. Based on these results, our physiotherapist puts together an individual, evidence-based training plan for the patient for the coming weeks.
2. Therapy Sessions:
   During the individual therapy sessions, patients train their respective exercises according to the training plan. Our experienced therapists are available during the introduction, accompany the therapy sessions and provide support if necessary.
   Neurological rehabilitation in MTT often uses the most modern training equipment to increase the intensity of the exercises and achieve even more effective training. The training equipment can be adjusted according to the patient, and the training session and the progress of each individual patient can be tracked.
3. Maintenance:
   Once the patient has achieved their defined training goals, it is important to maintain this new physical level. By restoring their fitness, the patient not only returns to everyday life physically strengthened but also with increased self-confidence and a new-found body feeling. Training improves the patient’s cardiovascular function and thus helps to significantly reduce secondary diseases and minimize the risk of future injuries.

Below, we will show you which wide range of modern training equipment and exercises are used at MTT in the Kliniken Schmieder:

What helps our patients to build up their strength?

• Leg press
• Rowing machines
• Abdominal and back trainer
• Pulling apparatus
• Dumbbells
• Climbing wall
• Treadmill or vibration machine

How do our patients improve their endurance?

• Cross trainer
• Movement trainer
• Bicycle ergometer
• Treadmill

How do we train our patients’ coordination and balance?

• Balance coach
• Climbing wall
• Vibration machine
• Treadmill

When does Medical Training Therapy help?

Medical Training Therapy is particularly recommended in the rehabilitation of patients with multiple sclerosis, stroke, traumatic brain injury, or Parkinson’s disease. It is suitable for all phases of neurological rehabilitation. The exercise programs at Kliniken Schmieder focus on three specific areas: muscle building, endurance training, and balance and coordination improvement.

Indeed, a key benefit of MTT is the flexibility of the treatment regimen. Our therapists can tailor the exercise routines to the patient’s fitness level and physical abilities; then, patients can significantly improve motility and strength with a progressive, gradual increase in difficulty. Moreover, exercises can target specific muscle groups, strengthen them and thus reduce the risk of future injury.

The effectiveness of exercises in musculoskeletal and neurological disorders is well-established. In one study, patients with chronic low back pain saw significant improvements from MTT compared to the self-exercise group – these results were replicated in a large meta-analysis.

A 2016 systematic review involving over thirty studies on stroke concluded that well-targeted exercise therapy improved balance capacities in the disease’s chronic phase. The beneficial effects of training therapy were also confirmed in Parkinson’s patients: a review found that all forms of exercise intervention reduce the severity of motor signs and improve patients’ quality of life.

If the patient is experiencing pain at the beginning of therapy, the first step is to reduce this pain through training sessions. MTT has the goal of maintaining and improving the patient’s muscle strength. As a result, the patient achieves better functional stability and increased performance and resilience of their musculoskeletal system. Our motivated physiotherapists aim to stabilize and improve the patient’s physical level so that the patient can once again be as active as possible in everyday life and thus have an improved quality of life.