Research and News
Archive for May, 2011
Improving Function after Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) with Balance Training
May 31st
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Exercises with Thera-Band elastic bands have been shown effective at improving strength and function in knee osteoarthritis patients before total knee replacement (TKR) surgery. Dr. Robert Topp and his colleagues have published several research papers on their “prehabilitation” pre-operative exercise program using Thera-Band that benefits total knee replacement patients before and after surgery.
Knee osteoarthritis patients are expected to receive 3 million total knee replacements per year by 2020 in the United States. Unfortunately, over one third of total knee patients experience deficits in function one year after surgery (Franklin et al 2008). Few exercise intervention studies have evaluated the effectiveness of balance training in combination with traditional rehabilitation exercises after early post-operative rehabilitation. Most total knee replacement patients receive in-patient exercises and some outpatient rehabilitation for a few months after surgery. Previous research has suggested that total knee rehabilitation patients plateau at 3 months after surgery (Mizner et al. 2005).
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh wanted to determine the feasibility of a balance exercise program in total knee replacement patients 2 to 6 months post-surgery. They randomly assigned 43 patients to either a ‘functional’ training More >
Home exercise benefits knee osteoarthritis patients
May 26th
Patients with knee osteoarthritis often have weakness of their hip abductor muscles. Knee osteoarthritis patients have also been shown to have altered biomechancis at the hip, leading to abnormal loading on the medial side of their knee joint. This increase in loading is thought to result in an increased knee adductor moment during gait because of weak hip abductors. Several studies have shown that Thera-Band elastic resistance exercise can decrease pain and increase function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Researchers in Canada wanted to see if an 8-week home strengthening program could improve joint loading, strength, pain and function in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis. 40 patients, along with 40 age-matched control subjects without arthritis were included in the study. The patients with knee osteoarthritis had 25% weaker hip abductor strength and significantly greater hip adductor moments compared to the control group.
The home exercise program included sidelying and standing hip abduction strengthening, progressing to elastic bands. The group with knee arthritis performed exercises 3 to 4 times a week with one set to fatigue on both legs. When they could complete 20 repetitions without fatigue, they progressed to the next color band.
After 8 weeks, the osteoarthritis group significantly increased their hip abduction strength More >
Does elastic resistance enhance traditional cable column exercises?
May 24th
Recently, strength and conditioning professionals have been adding elastic resistance to traditional isotonic resistance exercises such as the bench press and squat in an effort to improve strength outcomes. In theory, so-called “variable” resistance (in the form of elastic bands or weighted chains) provides increasing resistance toward the end of the range of motion and helps facilitate power development. A study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research featured in the Academy Blog found that adding elastic bands and chains to traditional free-weight barbell exercises may increase maximal strength levels and increase power input.
Adding elastic bands to the ends of barbells produces resistance in ‘parallel’ to the direction of gravity. Researchers in Spain wanted to see if they could produce similar results by adding elastic resistance in ‘series’ with the direction of exercise using a cable column exercise machine. They noted that the combination of elastic resistance with the constant load of the pulley cable should decrease the need for deceleration at the end of the movement, thus enhancing muscle tension throughout the range of motion.
The researchers began by connecting an elastic resistance device in-series with the pulley cable and handle. The resistance of the band was equivalent to the load More >
A successful treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis
May 19th
Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition caused by an inflammation of the plantar fascia, affecting nearly 2 million in the US annually (Martin et al. 2001). While most cases of plantar fasciitis are resolved with conservative treatment within a year, severe cases usually result in a surgical intervention.
A recent case report in the Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy describes a successful intervention in a 61 year old patient with a 10-year history of chronic plantar fasciitis who used night splints. Plantar fasciitis can increase the risk of falls in older adults, although the condition is not as prevalent as in younger adults.
In the case report, physical therapists Stephanie Peplinski and Kent Irwin described their 4-week intervention. The patient received 8 sessions of individualized physical therapy, twice a week for 4 weeks. She received soft tissue mobilization and iontophoresis with dexamethasone, and performed 4-direction ankle Thera-Band resistance band exercises for 10 repetitions in the clinic and at home. She also used a balance board and foam pad for balance training in the clinic.
At discharge, she reported decreased pain and improved activities of daily living (ADL). This case report demonstrated that an individualized physical therapy program with targeted interventions can improve the symptoms in chronic More >
Washington Redskins feature cheerleader exercise program with Thera-Band
May 16th
Recently, the Academy Blog told you about research on cheerleaders with hamstring pain using Thera-Band. Now the official website of the Washington Redskins has featured the research and exercise program. Be sure and check the video at the bottom of the page that features Dr. Jay Greenstein leading the exericses with the team!
