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Thera-Band exercise reduces falls and improves quality of life in women with osteoporosis
May 11th
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Persons with osteoporosis are at higher risk of fracture after a fall. It’s well-known that exercise is an important aspect of managing osteoporosis, yet there are few studies evaluating the effects of balance exercises on actually preventing falls in women with osteoporosis. The Academy Blog recently featured a study showing that elastic resistance training can reduce the risk factors associated with falls, but did not examine actual fall rates.
Researchers in Brazil investigated the effects of a year-long balance training program on quality of life, balance, and falls in older women with osteoporosis. The women were randomly assigned to an exercise group or control group. Those in the exercise group performed a balance training program 1 hour per week, supplemented with home exercises for 12 months. The program consisted of 15 minutes of warm-up and stretching exercises, 15 minutes of walking, and 30 minutes of dynamic and static balance training exercises. The same exercises were repeated at home 3 times a week for 30 minutes. The researchers used a previously published exercise protocol that showed a significant decrease in falls in Japanese older adults. More >
Army Physical Therapist relies on Thera-Band
May 9th
(NOTE: The following article was written by the APTA’s Sports Physical Therapy Section and is reprinted with their permission. SPTS member and Army Physical Therapist CPT Jesse C. Ellwein proudly displays his Thera-Band “at Work” in Afghanistan.)
Sports physical therapists work in some of the most unusual – and dangerous – places…Sports physical therapists are commonly seen on the sidelines, the field and the court, as well as in the sports clinic. Many SPTS members spend their days working in hospital or clinic settings, seeing athletes of all ages along with traditional orthopedic patients.
Just got to a base. I’ve got my folding exam table, Theraband, laptop and some patient handouts. Now I’m ready to see patients.And some of our colleagues risk their very lives to provide much-needed physical therapy care.
CPT Jesse C. Ellwein is the Brigade Physical Therapist for the 170th Infantry Brigade based out of Baumholder, Germany, and is currently stationed in northern Afghanistan. He holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), as well as a certified personal trainer through the National Council on Strength and Fitness (CPT-NCSF). He is CrossFit level one certified and is an avid and active athlete himself.
However, More >
Elastic resistance hip strengthening exercise program improves low back pain
May 5th
Low back pain has been said to occur in 80% of the population at one time or another. Recently, hip abductor weakness has been implicated as a factor in chronic low back pain. Gluteus medius weakness is thought to result from poor lateral hip stabilization during single-leg stance, leading to abnormal loading of the lumbar spine.
As part of a larger study on hip abductor weakness in patients with non-specific low back pain, Canadian researchers had 10 patients with low back pain perform a 3-week home-based hip abductor strengthening program with an elastic band. The patients used a resistance level of 10-15RM (the maximum resistance that allows only 10 to 15 repetitions). The patients performed hip abduction in the frontal plane and hip abduction with the leg in 45 degrees of extension. They did not increase their resistance levels over the 3 weeks. They were tested for isometric hip abductor strength prior to the study and compared to 10 control subjects without low back pain. Isometric hip strength was normalized to body weight.
The researchers found that patients with low back pain were significantly weaker (31%) than those without low back pain before the study. After the 3-week exercise intervention, the subjects with More >
Thera-Band® Exercise helps Washington Redskins Cheerleaders
May 3rd
Research on the Washington Redskins Professional Cheerleading team found that one-third suffered from lower back and hamstring pain (Greenstein & Bishop 2006). The ballistic chorus line-like kicks and drop splits are thought to be the reason for this high injury rate. A team of researchers from the Thera-Band Research Advisory Committee (TRAC) wanted to determine if an exercise intervention targeting the hamstrings could reduce the incidence of hamstring pain. Dr. Jay Greenstein, the chiropractor for the team, developed an eccentric hamstring training program with Thera-Band band loops. Injury data was collected at 3 points in the year: team selection in June, before pre-season in June, and after the season in December.
During the season, the cheerleaders performed the exercises 2 times per week at practice, as well as at home 3 times a week. Those with hamstring pain were assigned a Red Thera-Band band loop to perform the ‘split-stance’ eccentric hamstring exercise
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Cheerleaders without hamstring pain used a Green Thera-Band loop and performed the ‘split-stance’ exercise, as well as a single-leg stance exercise.
Each exercise was performed a prescribed number of times based on the chart below. The eccentric lowering phase was performed over 5 seconds, while the concentric phase was performed over 2 More >
Thera-Band® First Step to Foot Relief™ Awarded APMA Seal of Acceptance
Apr 29th
Akron, OH (PRWEB) April 21, 2011. The American Podiatric Medical Association has awarded the APMA Seal of Acceptance to the Thera-Band® First Step to Foot Relief™, a first-line treatment plan for heel pain. The seal is awarded to a product after the Committee on Podiatric Seals, a standing committee of the American Podiatric Medical Association, scientifically evaluates and determines whether the product allows normal foot function and promotes quality foot health.
The First Step to Foot Relief provides the podiatrist with an at-home treatment plan that enhances their in-clinic service with professional tools and an easy-to-follow program. The product was developed under the direction of practicing podiatrists, physical therapists and chiropractors to address heel pain.
“Over two million Americans suffer from heel pain, the most common ailment seen in podiatry today,” stated Elizabeth DeFranco, Podiatry Marketing Manager at Performance Health. “Our new First Step to Foot Relief provides a podiatrist with guided options to improve their patient’s well-being and to enhance their level of service for patients with heel pain. We are very pleased that the First Step to Foot Relief received the APMA’s Seal of Acceptance, which further validates the product’s value and impact.”
The APMA Seal of Acceptance recognizes products that have More >
