Research and News
Thera-Band Loops
Clinical management of “frozen shoulder” features Thera-Band products
Jan 19th
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Frozen shoulder, or “adhesive capsulitis,” affects nearly 5% of the population. It remains a painful, debilitating and difficult-to-treat diagnosis. Dr. Phil Page and Andre Labbe published a paper in the North American Journal of Sports Physical Therapy that reviewed the current concepts in physical therapy treatment for frozen shoulder patients. They reviewed interventions such as modalities, passive motion, manual techniques, soft tissue mobilization, kinesiological taping, and therapeutic exercise. The Thera-Band® Shoulder Sling exercise was featured as a way to help restore normal motor patterns of the trapezius during abduction in frozen shoulder patients.
REFERENCE: Page P, Labbe A. Adhesive capsulitis: use the evidence to integrate your interventions. 2010. N Am J Sports Phys Ther. 5(4):266-273.
Visit the Thera-Band Academy Frozen Shoulder Resource Center
Thera-Band Exercises Effective for Piriformis Syndrome
Jan 12th
Piriformis syndrome is a common cause of hip and leg pain, often producing symptoms of sciatic nerve entrapment. Physical therapists in Los Angeles published a case report in the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy on a 30 year old male with a 2-year history of piriformis syndrome. A 3-month program that included 8 clinic visits with a daily home exercise program was prescribed:
- Phase I: Isolated muscle recruitment: bridge and clam exercise with looped band
- Phase II: Weight-bearing strengthening: squat, lateral step with looped band, 1 –leg sit to stand and step down
- Phase III: Functional training: lunges and jumps
After the physical therapy program, and at a one-year follow-up, the patient was pain-free, experiencing normal strength, and had returned to sport. The authors suggested that improved strength and performance of gluteus maximus reduced the demand on the piriformis and helped prevent hip motion that may have increased strain on the piriformis. A progressive, functional exercise program including Thera-Band resistance bands and band loops can be effective at reducing the symptoms of piriformis syndrome.
REFERENCE: Tonley JC, Yun SM, Kochevar RJ, Dye JA, Farrokhi S, Powers CM. Treatment of an individual with piriformis syndrome focusing on hip muscle strengthening and movement reeducation: a case report. J Orthop Sports More >
Developing Thera-Band exercise programs for overhead throwing athletes
Dec 17th
The overhead athlete’s shoulder must be strong, flexible, and enduring for optimal performance. Shoulder exercises for the throwing athlete must reflect the specific functional demands required both for injury prevention and rehabilitation. Head Athletic Trainer for the Boston Red Sox, Mike Reinold, DPT, ATC, CSCS, published a “current concepts” paper on preventive and rehabilitative exercises for overhead throwing athletes.
Dr. Reinold and his colleagues outlined 6 principles of injury prevention and treatment programs:
1. Maintain range of motion
2. Maintain strength of the glenohumeral and scapulothoracic musculature
3. Emphasize dynamic stabilization and neuromuscular control
4. Core and lower body training
5. Off-season preparation
6. In-season maintenance
In addition, the authors outlined a rehabilitation progression for shoulder conditions including impingement, instability, and rotator cuff tendonitis. They recommend the use of products such as elastic tubing, exercise balls, soft weights, and band loops throughout the program. By understanding the demands on the throwing shoulder, rehabilitation professionals can improve their clinical decision-making and progressive exercise prescription. For more information on the overhead throwing shoulder, I recommend Dr. Reinold’s book co-written with Kevin Wilk PT and James Andrews MD, The Athlete’s Shoulder. The Thera-Band family of resistance exercise products is an important part of any preventive or rehabilitative exercise program for overhead throwing athletes.
REFERENCE: More >
EMG evidence helps support evidence-based practice with Thera-Band
Oct 7th
Electromyography (EMG) is a helpful tool for clinicians to decide which exercise would be best for their patients rehabilitation. Many studies have investigated the muscle activation levels of elastic resistance, including Thera-Band® resistance bands. Dr. Todd Ellenbecker of Physiotherapy Associates in Scottsdale, Arizona, investigated the EMG levels of 2 Thera-Band exercises he uses in his clinic. “We use these exercises on our patients, yet we don’t exactly know the muscle activation levels,” Dr. Ellenbecker noted, “EMG testing will help us make better clinical decisions for exercise prescription.”
Dr. Ellenbecker presented his findings at the 2010 Thera-Band Research Advisory Committee (TRAC) meeting. 21 subjects performed an external rotation oscillation with the FlexBar® exerciser and a Thera-Band Band Loop Wall Walk. The researchers measured surface EMG levels of the deltoid, rotator cuff and scapular stabilizers. Interestingly, both exercises produced similar levels of activation. The most active muscle for both exercises was the infraspinatus of the rotator cuff, which had moderate activation levels. Interestingly, the ratios of the upper trapezius to lower trapezius were over 1:1 for both exercises. “That’s important because we like to bias the lower trapezius, which is usually weaker than the upper trapezius in shoulder patients,” said Dr. Ellenbecker. His research helps More >
ATP tour uses Thera-Band® products for their players
Aug 30th
Thera-Band Research Advisory Committee (TRAC) member, Todd Ellenbecker, DPT, MS, SCS, OCS, CSCS was recently featured on a video demonstrating balance and agility exercises for tennis with Thera-Band products. Todd is the Director of Sports Medicine for the ATP Tour, and is the National Director of Clinical Research and Clinic Director of Physiotherapy Associates in Scottsdale. Learn more about the Thera-Band Stability Trainer, Band Loops, and Soft Weights that Todd recommends in the video.
You can also view the video at the ATP website here: Agility Training for Tennis with Thera-Band Products
For more information on purchasing Thera-Band products, contact your local healthcare distributor or visit our “Where to Buy” website to find a practitioner in your area who sells the products.
