Research and News
In the News
Interdisciplinary “Train the Trainer” for North America Successful
Mar 16th
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our email updates for new blog posts. Thanks for visiting!
In Dallas Texas, an interdisciplinary group of 28 clinicians and educators from physical and occupational therapy, chiropractic, athletic training, and massage therapy gathered to attend the 2nd North American “Train the Trainer” meeting. During the 2-day meeting in March, attendees from the US and Canada learned about the scientific and clinical application of Thera-Band and Biofreeze products. The instructors then share their knowledge from the Train the Trainer meeting with other clinicians and students in their respective profession. The North American group joins 28 newly-certified instructors from Latin America in January.
The Thera-Band Academy supports over 230 instructors from 45 countries around the world. Each instructor presents professional workshops in their country using Thera-Band and Biofreeze products. The instructors work with their local dealers to provide evidence-based hands-on workshops for healthcare and fitness professionals. Click here to search for workshops offered by Academy instructors.
Thera-Band® bands featured in New York Times for tendon pain
Mar 3rd
An article in the March 1 edition of New York Times described how tendinopathies (the correct term for chronic tendinitis) don’t really respond to corticosteroid injections based on a scientific review of the literature. While the author mentioned that eccentric exercise is often helpful, she didn’t mention the successful Tyler Twist eccentric exercise using the Thera-Band FlexBar® for Tennis Elbow! However, at the end of the article, Dr. Marilyn Moffat, a long-time friend described how Thera-Band® resistance bands can help shoulder tendinopathy.
Stretch Strap Featured in ACA News
Mar 1st
Dr. Jay Greenstein, member of the Thera-Band® Research Advisory Committee (TRAC), was recently featured in ACA News, a publication of the American Chiropractic Association. As part of an article on “New Tools for Your Toolbox,” Dr. Greenstein described several new products to enhance clinical practice. “When I first saw the new Thera-Band® Stretch Strap, I immediately fell in love with it,” said Dr. Greenstein. In the article, he described the benefits of the Stretch Strap as well as several exercises he uses in the clinic as CEO of Sport and Spine Rehab (http://www.ssrehab.com/). Stretching exercises are important for increasing or maintaining muscle length, flexibility, and range of motion. The Thera-Band Stretch Strap has the ability to perform both contract-relax and static stretching, which are common and effective modes of stretching. Traditional straps only provide for static stretching, while the elasticity of the Thera-Band Stretch Strap facilitates contract-relax stretching where muscle is first contracted, followed by a stretch. For more information on the Thera-Band Stretch Strap, including free exercises, check out the Thera-Band Academy’s online portal here.
Prehabilitation exercise for total knee replacement helps patients with severe end-stage arthritis
Feb 22nd
“Prehabilitation” refers to exercise performed before surgery that helps reduce functional decline after surgery. The theory is that a higher level of function pre-operatively will provide a higher level of function post-operatively, thus shortening the rehabilitation process. Prehabilitation exercise has been shown effective at preventing functional decline in frail elderly individuals (Gill et al. 2002).
For the past 4 years , Dr. Robert Topp and his colleagues at the University of Louisville have been researching the effects of a “prehab” program for patients scheduled for total knee replacement surgery. Their exercise program features progressive Thera-Band resistance exercises performed over a period of 4 to 8 weeks before surgery. Last year, I featured Dr. Topp’s prehabilitation program in the Academy Blog after his publication in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Most recently, Dr. Topp’s colleague, Dr. Ann Swank was the lead author on a paper in the February 2011 issue of Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. The article described the pre-operative outcomes of 71 patients with severe knee arthritis who had pain that didn’t respond to medication. The patients were randomly assigned to either a control group or a 4 to 8 week prehab exercise group prior to total knee replacement surgery.
Patients were tested More >
The Academy Supports Certified Exercise Experts for Aging Adults Program
Jan 31st
The Section on Geriatrics APTA is offering a 3 course series leading to becoming a “Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults“. The Academy has supported the geriatric physical therapy training program for several years with Thera-Band products including resistance bands, Stability Trainers and FlexBars. Physical therapists who complete the program will demonstrate expert clinical decision-making skills in (1) examination of aging adults, (2) designing and applying an effective exercise prescription, and (3) measuring the effectiveness and reflecting on the current evidence of exercise for all aging adults. The process to attain the credential of “Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults” is to complete formal didactic education and to participate in supervised and mentored skills development, home-based reflection, practical testing, and critical thinking. Three courses of two days each address evidence-based examination and different and increasingly complex aspects of exercise design and delivery. The three courses are designed to build on each other; however, Courses 1 and 2 can be taken out of sequence. Course 1 is Introduction and Examinati on (Tests and Measures); Course 2 is Exercise Prescription and Consensus Guidelines; and Course 3 is Special Populations, Complementary Exercises, Motivation, Drug and Nutritional Considerations, and Marketing. For information contact Karen Oshman at <Karen.Oshman@geriatricspt.org>. Further More >
