Research and News
Archive for February, 2010
Introducing the newest THERA-BAND FlexBar® Resistance Option: Yellow!
Feb 25th
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Akron, OH – Performance Health / Hygenic Corporation announces the introduction of new Thera-Band FlexBar, Yellow Resistance, for upper extremity rehabilitation and stabilization training. New Thera-Band FlexBar Yellow is the Extra Light resistance option for beginning rehab, pediatric, or geriatric patients, joining the Thera-Band color progression family of Red/Light, Green/Medium, and Blue/Heavy resistances.
Thera-Band FlexBar is 12” in length, contains a ribbed surface for secure grip, and is supplied in 4 progressive resistances beginning with new Thera-Band Flexbar Yellow and progressing to Red, Green, and Blue resistance levels for greater challenge. Made from dry natural rubber, the resistance of the Thera-Band FlexBar is increased by the force required to bend, twist, or oscillate the bar while holding it securely at one or both ends.
Thera-Band FlexBar is used routinely by therapists and trainers for clinical rehab and sold by Thera-Band authorized healthcare distributors.
Thera-Band® exercise helps improve bone density and reduce falls in osteoporosis
Feb 24th
It’s been well-established that exercise has numerous health benefits, yet it is only relatively recently that exercise has been shown safe and effective at improving health and quality of life in older adults.
Recent recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and American College of Sports Medicine include strengthening exercises for older adults at least twice a week. Strength training can improve muscular strength, power and endurance in older adults. In addition, strength training can increase bone mass or decrease bone mass loss which is particularly important in women with osteoporosis. Falls in osteoporotic women in particular often lead to fractures of the hip, back, and arm.
Researchers in Germany set out to determine if a well-rounded exercise program that included Thera-Band® resistance bands would be effective at increasing bone density, decreasing falls, and improving cardiovascular risk factors in older women. In the study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, 246 women over 65 years old were randomly assigned to either a high-intensity/low volume “well-rounded” exercise program, or a low-intensity “wellness” exercise control group. The 18 month exercise program included 2 group sessions per week and 2 home-based sessions per week.
The well-rounded exercise group protocol included cardiovascular warm-up exercises, upper body strengthening exercise using More >
It’s not too late to exercise years after knee arthroscopy
Feb 22nd
Meniscus tears in the knee are relatively common, particularly in middle-aged athletic individuals. Arthroscopic surgery is often performed to remove damaged cartilage. Surprisingly, some orthopedic surgeons do not prescribe physical therapy after knee arthroscopy, feeling patients can recover on their own with a few simple exercises. Unfortunately, this may lead to long-term deficits in strength, range of motion, and function. Such deficits may predispose patients to knee osteoarthritis as well.
Scandinavian researchers wanted to evaluate the effects of a functional proprioceptive-based exercise program several years after arthroscopic meniscectomy. 30 patients at 4 years after their surgery were randomly assigned to the functional training group or a non-exercising control group. Both groups were tested for functional performance, strength, and self-reported pain and quality of life before and after the 4 month study.
The exercise group was led by a physiotherapist 3 times per week. A neuromuscular exercise program was developed including foam pads, balance boards and mini-trampolines. The program emphasized closed kinetic chain exercises, muscular coactivation, reactive neuromuscular training, and functional alignment. After 4 months, the functional exercise group had significantly better function and strength than the control group.
While improvements in strength and function can be expected in an exercise group compared to a non-exercising More >
Adding elastic resistance to free weight bench press better for muscular strength and power
Feb 18th
Free weight isotonic resistance using barbells continues to be the ‘gold standard’ for strength training for power lifting. Recently, strength and conditioning professionals have added elastic resistance to free-weight exercises such as the bench press and squat to increase strength, power and speed. The additional downward force of the band during the early phases of the lift provides increased eccentric loading which may provide greater stimulus for gains in strength and power. In theory, the greater eccentric velocities may shorten deceleration time, which may increase the rate of force development with training.
Adding ‘variable resistance training’ using elastic bands is also thought to provide increased resistance where the joints have more leverage in earlier phases of the lift, with decreasing loads during periods of less leverage near later phases of the movement such as the bottom of the squat. When reviewing the literature on the benefits of adding elastic resistance bands to free weight exercises, some studies suggest it improves strength and power, while others do not.
A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research compared traditional bench press training with and without the addition of external variable resistance loads (elastic bands and heavy chains). 36 Division-I AA football players were More >
"Beyond Bands" courses featured in Advance magazine
Feb 15th
The Thera-Band Academy’s continuing education workshop, “Beyond Bands” was recently featured in an article in Advance for Physical Therapy and Rehab Medicine. Be sure and check out the article here. The article includes interviews with host physical therapy schools and workshop instructors. For more information on the course, as well as course schedules, click here.
The Beyond Bands workshops have raised over $10,000 to support PT student fund raising and research in physical therapy.
