Research and News
Research Updates
New Article in NAJSPT on Tyler Twist
Sep 16th
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I’m proud to announce that the North American Journal of Sports Physical Therapy has just published my review paper on the “Tyler Twist” outcome study. The Tyler et al. study was just published in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. Download my review article here (requires free registration to the Academy). The article not only summarizes Tim’s article, but it provides more insight to the ‘aftermath’ of his study. Let me know what you think!
New Thera-Band® exercise helps replicate biomechanical function of ankle
Sep 9th
Exercises for ankle sprains often include strengthening of the peroneus longus muscle, usually with Thera-Band® elastic bands or ankle weights. Based on its origin and insertion, the peroneus longus muscle is thought to be responsible for ankle eversion and plantar flexion. However, in terms of its true function, the peroneus longus is an important stabilizer of the first ray during closed-chain weight bearing, creating a rigid lever for push-off (Subotnick, 1975).
Electromyographic (EMG) evidence shows that the peroneus longus peaks in activation during the latter half of the stance phase when the weight of the body is over the forefoot in a plantar-flexed position. Despite this evidence, peroneus longus exercises are often prescribed in an open-chain against resistance during eversion movements.
In the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, physical therapy researchers investigated the effectiveness of more functional closed-chain exercises on activation of the peroneus longus while measuring EMG activity. They evaluated closed-chain plantar flexion (heel raises) with a 5 pound laterally-directed resistance provided by a yellow Thera-Band resistance band placed around the middle of the foot. A yellow band stretched to 200% of its resting length will produce a force of 5 pounds (Page et al. 2000). According to the authors, “The pull More >
Therapeutic Exercise Program for Hip Osteoarthritis: A Case Report
Sep 6th
Arthritis of the hip is associated with pain both at rest and during weight-bearing. Current recommendations for managing hip osteoarthritis include therapeutic exercises as a first choice of treatment. Hip pain is one of the most common limiting factors when performing hip osteoarthritis exercises. These exercise programs are often provided individually by physical therapists, as there are few if any therapeutic exercise protocols for hip osteoarthritis patients in the literature. While strengthening exercises remain the most common type of exercise prescription for hip osteoarthritis patients, balance exercises are also important because of deficits in proprioception and postural stability in these patients. Thera-Band® Stability Trainers have been successfully used in hip patient exercise programs (Boeers et al. 2010).
Norwegian physical therapists published a case report on a 58 year old woman with hip osteoarthritis. They included strength, flexibility, and balance exercises using foam balance pads. The patient received 19 sessions of physical therapy over 12 weeks and improved in pain, strength and function at a 6 month follow-up. Download the therapeutic exercise program for hip arthritis here. While the hip osteoarthritis physical therapy protocol was successful in this patient, a randomized controlled trial is needed to determine the true effectiveness of the program in other patients. Thera-Band Stability trainers provide progressive More >
Evidence-based Recommendations for Core Training with Unstable Surfaces
Sep 2nd
Core training has maintained its popularity in fitness and rehabilitation despite controversies over optimal training methods for “core stability.” Training with unstable surfaces such as Thera-Band® exercise balls, stability trainers, and balance boards have been recommended for core training, suggesting that such surfaces promote activation of core muscles. The “core” can be defined as the axial skeletal and its muscular and fascial attachments, including the pelvic and shoulder girdle.
Recently, resistance training while balancing on unstable surfaces such as exercise balls has become popular. Canadian researchers David Behm PhD and colleagues published a comprehensive review and position stand on the use of instability to train the core. Research has shown that exercises performed on unstable surfaces produce higher levels of muscle activation in both the core and extremity muscles compared to stable surfaces. However, force and power outputs are decreased while exercising on unstable surfaces, sometimes up to 70%. Interestingly, increasing levels of core muscle activation can also be achieved with free weight exercises such as squats and Olympic lifts without added instability.
In their article, the authors made several recommendations for both athletes and non-athletic conditioning based on their review of the literature. Dr. Behm et al. noted that athletes should emphasize “higher-intensity ground-based lifts” (such More >
