Research and News
Research Updates
Thera-Band exercises help cancer recovery
Jul 22nd
As cancer survival rates increase, older adults are living longer, but often at a lower functional level after cancer treatments. Researchers at Duke University combined home-based Thera-Band exercises for cancer survivors with dietary information in a 12-month program using telephone counseling and mailed print material. The randomized, controlled clinical trial included 641 survivors of colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer between 65 and 91 years old. The results, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), showed that cancer surviors participating in the exercise and diet program had less functional decline than the control group not receiving the program. The program participants also significantly improved in lower extremity function, physical activity level, dietary behavior, quality of life, and lost nearly twice as much weight as the control group. The “RENEW” (Reach out to Enhance Wellness) study was supported by Thera-Band Academy for several years.
Exercise with FlexBar may help treat tennis elbow
Jul 14th
KEYSTONE, CO – People with pain in the elbow or forearm from playing sports or just from common everyday activities, might be able to use a Thera-Band FlexBar and strengthening exercise to alleviate pain, say researchers who are presenting their study results at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine’s Annual Meeting in Keystone, Colorado, July 9th-12th.
Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis is a common condition effecting nearly three percent of the general population, not just those who play tennis. “Our study illustrated that a novel exercise, using an inexpensive rubber bar, may provide a practical and effective means of adding isolated wrist strengthening exercises to a treatment plan,” said lead author Timothy F. Tyler, PT, ATC, Clinical Research Associate, of the Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma in New York City.
The study randomized 21 patients with tennis elbow into two groups. Both received the wrist extensor stretching, ultrasound, cross-friction massage, heat and ice for treatment. The eccentric training group performed isolated eccentric wrist extensor strengthening using the rubber FlexBar (Thera-Band, Akron OH) while the standard treatment group performed isotonic wrist strengthening exercises. Three sets of 15 repetitions were performed daily as part of a home program with intensity increased More >
"Thera-Band Kicks" improve balance after chronic ankle sprains in only 4 weeks
Apr 6th
Thera-Band Tubing Hip Extension Kick
As many as 70% of people who sprain their ankle re-injure themselves; poor balance has been implicated as a possible cause for the high recurrence rate in ankle sprains. As a result, balance training exercises have been prescribed to help reduce subsequent ankle sprains. Exercise programs using unstable surfaces such as Thera-Band Stability Trainers and Balance Boards have been shown effective at improving balance in patients with chronic ankle sprains. Recently, researchers from San Jose State University found that exercises using elastic tubing are also effective at improving balance in patients suffering from repetitive ankle sprains. In the randomized, controlled study, both subjects with and without a history of ankle sprains were given 4 weeks of elastic tubing exercise involving ‘kicks’ against the resistance in 4 directions; they exercised 3 times pwer week for 3 sets of 15 repetitions. The subjects progressively increased the resistance level over the 4 weeks. After only 4 weeks of training, balance improved in both subjects with and without a history of sprains, demonstrating the efficacy of the simple exercise often referred to as “Thera-Band Kicks.” Interestingly, subjects had improved balance up to 4 weeks after the exercise program had ended.
Han et al. 2009. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 39(4):246-255 More >Improve function before knee replacement surgery through "prehab" exercise
Apr 6th
Knee osteoarthritis affects about 4.3 million people in the United States, and nearly 400,000 knee replacements are performed each year. It’s been suggested that exercises performed before surgery help improve a patient’s recovery after surgery; this is known as “prehab,” or pre-surgical rehabilitation exercise. Researchers at the University of Louisville recently determined that prehab is effective at improving function both before and after total knee replacement surgery. Their prehab exercise program using Thera-Band resistance bands were featured in a new article published in Functional U, published by the International Council on Active Aging.
Topp R, et al. 2009. Improve function before knee replacement surgery. Functional U. 7(2):1-8.
Simple Exercises to Prevent Falls
Apr 6th
Researchers in Portugal investigated the effects of 2 simple strengthening exercises using Thera-Band® resistance bands. The randomized, controlled study , published in Geriatrics and Gerontology International, included 48 institutionalized older adults. Subjects were tested before and after the program on ankle strength, functional mobility, and balance. The 2 exercises, ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion, were performed 3 times a week for 6 weeks, and gradually progressed by increasing the color level of the Thera-Band resistance.
Thera-Band Ankle Plantarflexion
After 6 weeks, the researchers found significant increases in ankle strength (dorsiflexion and plantarflexion), as well as significant increases in functional mobility and balance. The gain in ankle strength was significantly associated with improvement in dynamic balance. There was no significant change in the control group. The researchers concluded, the low cost strength training program may provide a ”modest degree of protection from injurious falls among these institutionalized older adults.”
Riberio et al. Impact of low cost strength training of dorsi- and plantar flexors on balance and functional mobility in institutionalized elderly people.Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2009 Mar;9(1):75-80.
