Research and News
Archive for January, 2010
Attend a Beyond Bands Workshops Near You
Jan 31st
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Syracuse, NY (February 6) Madison, WI (March 6) Louisville, KY (March 20) Slippery Rock, PA (March 20)Thera-Band® Academy has partnered with PT and PTA schools to provide a one-day workshop for physical therapists and PTAs as a fund-raiser for their students. The evidence-based course, titled “Beyond Bands: Evidence-based Progression of Elastic and Proprioceptive Exercises,” is practical and hands-on with 60% lab, 40% lecture. Proceeds from each course go back to students at sponsor schools to support their own initiatives, including the Foundation for Physical Therapy’s Miami-Marquette Challenge.
Click here to view all course dates and locations
“Beyond Bands” is an evidence-based practical workshop that provides clinically relevant therapeutic exercise progressions. Using inexpensive and readily available equipment, this workshop will help improve clinical decision-making and problem solving skills for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants at all levels. This intensive workshop includes lecture and hands-on lab activities using progressive elastic resistance and progressive proprioception exercises using exercise balls, and balance training devices. Participants will learn the scientific basis for impairment-based exercise progressions including state of the art EMG analysis and proper patient positioning for appropriately-dosed exercise More >
Thera-Band® elastic bands as effective as expensive weight machines
Jan 27th
Muscle strengthening activities are now recommended as part of a regular exercise program. The recent Physical Activity Guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States recommend strengthening exercises for all adults at least twice a week. Unfortunately, only about 20% of adults participate in regular strengthening exercises (CDC, 2006). Access to strength training equipment is frequently cited as a barrier to meeting this recommendation. Researchers in Spain compared 2 training programs using either weight machines or Thera-Band® resistance bands. They wanted to determine if there were any differences between band or machine strength training. 45 middle-aged women were randomly assigned an elastic group, a machine group, or a non-exercising control group. The 2 strength training groups performed the same exercises, using the OMNI scale of perceived exertion to be sure both groups trained and progressed at the same intensity. The periodized program lasted 10 weeks for 2 sessions per week. After the training, both groups significantly increased their muscle mass and decreased their fat mass, as well as improved in muscular endurance. There was no significant difference between the groups; both groups improved significantly more than the control group. Researcher Drs. Juan Carlos Colado and N. Travis Triplett noted that elastic bands were More >
Preventing shoulder impingement in overhead workers with Thera-Band® resistance bands
Jan 26th
Shoulder impingement is common in people who perform repetitive overhead work. For example, as many as 70% of construction workers report shoulder pain, compared to 25% of the general population. Physical therapy researchers studied shoulder pain in 240 construction workers. In their prospective study, ½ of the workers participated in a home exercise program designed to prevent shoulder injuries, while the other half served as controls. The home program included stretches and exercises with elastic resistance to strengthen the shoulder. Exercises were performed every other day, beginning with 3 sets of 10, progressed to 3 sets of 20. At the end of the 2 year study, the workers participating in the exercise program had fewer injuries than the non-exercising control group; in fact, the workers not performing the exercise program were 1 ½ times more likely to have a shoulder injury. An exercise program with Thera-Band elastic resistance may be beneficial in reducing shoulder injuries in overhead workers.
Visit the Thera-Band Academy Shoulder Impingement resource center here.
New Thera-Band® and Biofreeze® Products for 2010
Jan 21st
I hope everyone is having a great New Year. I wanted to start off 2010 by announcing several new Thera-Band® and Biofreeze® products.
New Thera-Band Latex Free Professional Resistance Bands
Newly-formulated to match the pull forces of our existing Latex Professional Resistance Bands, these new latex free bands are ideal in hospital settings or with patients suffering latex allergies. The new formula is also powder-free and scent-free. Available in 25 yard rolls or in pre-cut lengths in beginner (Thera-Band Yellow, Thera-Band Red & Thera-Band Green) and advanced (Thera-Band Black and Thera-Band Blue) kits. Please check out the new Latex Free Web Portal here.
Thera-Band Active Recovery Kits
3 new kits, which include both Thera-Band products and Biofreeze® Pain Relieving Spray, have been developed to facilitate home exercise programs with pain relief. The General Rehab & Pain Relief kits contain 2 levels of Thera-Band Professional Resistance Bands, while the Shoulder Rehab & Pain Relief kit includes the new Thera-Band Shoulder Pulley and a Thera-Band Yellow latex band in addition to the Biofreeze Spray. Please check out the new Active Recovery Kit Portal here.
Biofreeze Gel with Hands-Free Applicator and Biofreeze Wipes
There are 2 new Biofreeze products for 2010. First, we’ve added a hands-free applicator tip to the original More >
