Research and News
Thera-Band Elastic Resistance
Cervicogenic Headaches webinar now available for FREE
Dec 14th
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Recently, Dr. Phil Page presented a webinar on an evidence-led approach to managing cervicogenic headaches. In his presentation, Dr. Page discusses the symptoms and treatment of cervicogenic headaches, including modalities, exercise with Thera-Band® elastic resistance, and other manual therapies. Multi Radiance Medical sponsored the webinar, and is providing it free to listeners. You can listen to the free webinar by clicking here.
Thera-Band featured in Asian workshops and Olympic Teams
Dec 5th
Academy director Dr. Phil Page recently gave 3 workshops on the Janda Approach to Muscle Imbalance featuring Thera-Band® products in South Korea and China. See pictures from the workshop on our Thera-Band Academy Facebook page.
40 South Korean physical therapists attended a 2-day workshop at Korea University Physical Therapy School in November to learn how to evaluate and treat Janda’s muscle imbalance syndromes. Thera-Band products including elastic bands, stability trainers, and balance boards were demonstrated. The workshop was sponsored by the Korean Society for Sports Physical Therapy and Naum Care, distributors of Thera-Band products in South Korea. Check out more photos on the KSSPT website here.
Following the workshop, Dr. Page toured the Korea Sport University and Olympic Training Center, where the Korean Olympic team uses Thera-Band products. Lead physical therapist for the Korean Olympic Team, Dr. Jehoon Lee is also an instructor for Thera-Band Academy.
At the Beijing Sports University, 100 sports physical therapists and trainers attended a 1-day workshop on November 8 featuring Thera-Band products. Dr. Page then toured the Sport Science Research Center, which uses Thera-Band products for Chinese Olympic athletes as well.
The Asian tour concluded with Dr. Page’s keynote lecture to 300 attendees of the First National Congress of Physical Therapy More >
Exercises after Achilles tendon reconstruction: an EMG-based progression
Oct 13th
Post-operative rehabilitation depends on 3 people: the surgeon, the patient, and the therapist. Obviously, the surgeon must be technically proficient, the patient must be compliant, and the therapist must promote healing without damaging the surgical repair. Orthopedic surgeons often have therapists follow specific rehabilitation protocols, usually based on tissue-healing timeframes.
Tim Tyler PT ATC
Prescribing therapeutic exercise at the appropriate dosage is essential since some tissue stress is necessary to facilitate proper healing; however, too much stress can damage the repair. Little is known about the stresses to tissues during Achilles tendon exercises. Thera-Band® Academy Scientific Advisory Board member Tim Tyler, PT ATC presented EMG analysis data on common Achilles exercises at the 2011 TRAC Annual Meeting.
Ten healthy subjects performed several common exercises, including Thera-Band resisted plantar flexion. The EMG activation levels are reported as a percentage of a maximal contraction:
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Thera-Band Plantar Flexion
Seated toe raise : 11%
- Single-leg balance on Wobble Board : 25%
- Prone ankle pumps : 38%
- Plantar flexion with red Thera-Band exercise band : 45%
- Walking : 47%
- Lateral Step-up : 60%
- Single leg heel raise : 112%
- Single leg jump : 112%
While EMG levels are not a direct measure of tissue stress, they can help establish an appropriate progression of high to low intensity activities. For example, Thera-Band ankle More >
Cervicogenic Headache Treatment: What’s the Evidence?
Oct 11th
Janda's Upper Crossed Syndrome
How many of your patients with neck pain suffer from headaches as well, or vice-versa? Cervicogenic headaches are characterized by unilateral headache radiating from the posterior to anterior head, unilateral upper cervical pain and facet “locking,” which is often aggravated by sustained neck positions. Cervicogenic headaches are thought to result from a convergence of sensory input from the upper cervical spine into the trigeminal nucleus. Interestingly, these patients often exhibit Janda’s Upper Crossed Syndrome.
I recently published a review article on the assessment and management of cervicogenic headaches in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. The article describes the assessment of posture, range of motion, muscle length, muscle strength, joint mobility, breathing patterns, and trigger points. A special test, the Cervical Flexion-Rotation test, can help confirm the diagnosis with ~90% accuracy.
Based on my review of the literature, I recommend a multi-modal layered approach to cervicogenic headaches (or any chronic musculoskeletal pain syndrome for that matter): modalities, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercise. For cervicogenic headache patients, modalities such as TENS, cryotherapy, or low-level laser therapy can be helpful. Spinal manipulative therapy has been shown effective for cervicogenic headache patients in several studies. Other manual therapies such as instrument-assisted soft More >
Can high-intensity training improve throwing performance?
Oct 3rd
Dr. David Behm
Repetitive overhand throwing requires both the generation of anaerobic and aerobic power over the course of a game. Professor David Behm PhD and his colleagues at Memorial University in St. Johns Canada wanted to see if a high-intensity training (HIT) strengthening program with Thera-Band elastic resistance bands would be beneficial for female fastball players. He presented his findings at the 12th annual meeting of Thera-Band Academy’s Scientific Advisory Board, TRAC.
Twelve subjects were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. A “sprint” throwing training program was developed similar to a successful sprint cycle training program. The participants in the experimental training group performed a throwing motion against Thera-Band resistance. They progressively increased in resistance from green to blue to black resistance bands, exercising 3 times a week for 3 weeks with 5 sets of 20 repetitions.
After the short 3 week program, the training group significantly increased in peak oxygen consumption (VO2) by 18%, improved their lactate threshold by 21%, time to fatigue by 14%, and improved peak fastball velocity and endurance. The control group did not change. Dr. Behm’s research suggests that the HIT sprint throwing program with Thera-Band elastic resistance bands can significantly improve overhead throwing performance in females More >
