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Thera-Band exercise program helps reduce knee pain
Jul 3rd
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Patellofemoral pain syndrome results in chronic anterior knee pain, and is often associated with delayed and reduced activation of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) muscle. Therapeutic exercise is often prescribed to help improve the strength and onset timing of the VMO. Patellar taping is also used in managing anterior knee pain, and is often worn by the patient throughout the day.
Researchers in Turkey wanted to see if an exercise program for patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome could be effective with shorter tape application times (tape worn only during exercise sessions versus worn all day long). First, they compared the VMO muscle activation of 12 men with patellofemoral pain syndrome to 16 healthy controls. The patient group had significantly slower activation of the VMO compared to the control group, as well as significantly reduced strength and activation levels of the affected side compared to the unaffected side.
The 3 month home exercise program for patellofemoral pain syndrome used patellar taping only while exercises were performed, 3 times per day for 30 minutes per session. The progressive exercise program used Thera-Band® Exercise Bands and Stability Trainers. After the More >
Systematic review supports balance training
Jul 1st
Balance training using unstable surfaces such as Thera-Band Stability Trainers and Rocker / Wobble Boards continue to increase in popularity both in rehabilitation and sports performance. In addition, balance training has been shown to be beneficial in preventing injuries across the lifespan, from athletes to older adults.
German researchers published a systematic review of the efficacy of balance training for neuromuscular control and performance enhancement in the Journal of Athletic Training. 20 randomized clinical trials of balance training met their inclusion criteria for the review. As with many systematic reviews, the authors noted a lack of methodological quality and conflicting findings between studies. Nonetheless, they were able to make some conclusions:
- Balance training is effective at improving static postural sway and dynamic balance in both athletes and non-athletes.
- Balance exercises are recommended for postural and neuromuscular improvements, particularly for rehabilitation and preventive purposes.
- To improve strength, jumping or sports performance other interventions such as strength training are more effective than balance training.
- Longer balance training durations of 6 to 12 weeks seem more effective than shorter (4 week) durations.
The authors concluded that further research with higher methodological quality is needed to establish the efficacy and dose-response of balance training for functional performance.
USA Today features Thera-Band Neck and Shoulder Pain Exercise Research Study
Jun 30th
The USA Today featured a story on research from Dr. Lars Andersen in Denmark using Thera-Band® tubing to reduce neck and shoulder pain in office workers. For more information the study including links to download, visit the Academy’s webpage on Neck Pain Exercise here. You can also view the video of the exercise below:
Rotator cuff patients benefit from Thera-Band exercises
Jun 29th
Rotator cuff disease is the most common cause of shoulder pain in primary care (Ostor et al. 2005) and includes diagnoses such as bursitis, impingement, and rotator cuff tendinosis. Several studies featured in the Academy Blog have described how effective Thera-Band® exercises are in treating shoulder conditions, particularly when combined with manual therapy.
Researchers in Australia completed an extensive study on patients with rotator cuff disease over 3 ½ years and published their findings in the British Medical Journal. 120 patients in Melbourne meeting eligibility criteria were randomly assigned to either a home exercise and manual therapy or a placebo-controlled group receiving only sham ultrasound. 14 experienced physiotherapists at 12 centers were trained to provide both interventions.
The intervention program was published in a separate paper in 2007. Download their protocol here. The exercise and manual therapy group received 10 sessions of individualized standard treatment over 10 weeks including a twice-daily home exercise program with Thera-Band exercise bands. At the end of the first 10 weeks, there was no significant difference in pain or function between the experimental and control groups; they both significantly improved.
They continued the home exercise each day for 12 weeks after the initial 10 visits. After 22 weeks, the exercise More >
Exercises help reduce back pain after prolonged standing
Jun 27th
Prolonged standing often leads to low back pain, which can lead to occupational disability. Persons with low back pain after prolonged standing often have abnormal EMG activity of the gluteus medius and trunk flexor and extensor muscles. Researchers were interested to see if persons with low back pain after prolonged standing could reduce this pain after a progressive stabilization exercise program.
20 subjects with low back pain after prolonged standing were randomly assigned to an experimental or control exercise program. The 4-week home exercise program included 18 stabilization exercises targeting the abdominal, lower back, and gluteal muscles; one of the exercises was a standing row exercise with elastic resistance. Ten subjects performed exercises 4 times per week and attended one session per week supervised by a physical therapist. The other 10 control subjects did not exercise.
Subjects completing the home exercise program had significantly less low back pain during prolonged standing compared to the non-exercising control group. An exercise program of core stabilization exercises utilizing Thera-Band® elastic resistance may benefit patients with low back pain during prolonged standing, but more research is needed.
REFERENCE Nelson-Wong E, Callaghan JP. Changes in muscle activation patterns and subjective low back pain ratings during prolonged standing in response More >
