Academy Blog
Research and News
Top 10 Posts from 2011 on the Thera-Band Academy Blog
Jan 23rd
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our email updates for new blog posts. Thanks for visiting!
- Evidence to support Thera-Band for shoulder impingement grows
- Elastic resistance hip strengthening exercise program improves low back pain
- A successful treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis
- Neck pain in office workers relieved with 2 minutes of Thera-Band exercise!
- Long term benefits from Thera-Band exercises for shoulder pain
- Thera-Band exercise reduces falls and improves quality of life in women with osteoporosis
- Osteoporosis exercise program with elastic resistance can reduce fall risk factors
- Home exercise benefits knee osteoarthritis patients
- Thera-Band Exercises Effective for Piriformis Syndrome
- Prehabilitation exercise for total knee replacement helps patients with severe end-stage arthritis
Thera-Band Hip Exercise Reduces Anterior Knee Pain
Jan 15th
Anterior knee pain is often associated with hip muscle weakness of the abductors, extensors and external rotators. Dr. Vladimir Janda noted these muscles were particularly susceptible to inhibition and weakness. Hip weakness is particularly prevalent in females with anterior knee pain.
This hip weakness is thought to result in abnormal forces occurring at the knee during stance, allowing the femur to adduct more than normal, possibly leading to excessive force and/or abnormal tracking of the patellofemoral joint.
Traditionally, anterior knee pain was thought to result from quadriceps weakness, particularly from the vastus medialis muscle. Recent biomechanical and epidemiological data suggest however, that hip weakness may play a more important role in the etiology of patellofemoral pain.
Several studies have evaluated the use of elastic resistance in reducing patellofemoral pain. In a systematic review of elastic resistance in patellofemoral pain, Page concluded “Exercise interventions including elastic resistance in patients with PFPS are effective at reducing pain and improving function and strength.” Many protocols in the review, however, included both hip and knee strengthening…leaving the question of the effectiveness of hip exercises.
In the January 2012 issue of the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, Dr. Khalil Khayambashi and colleagues performed a randomized controlled trial of More >
EMG Analysis of Achilles Exercises
Jan 12th
In a recent blog post, I wrote about Tim Tyler’s research presentation on EMG of the gastroc-soleus during Achilles tendon rehab exercises. The study was published in the November issue of Sports Health. Just to re-cap, here’s what the researchers found:
-
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%
Be sure and check out Tim’s podcast of the study if you haven’t already:
Standard Podcast
Academy donates to Sports Physical Therapy Research Fund
Jan 11th
Performance Health, the makers of Thera-Band® and Biofreeze® products, have been proud supporters of the APTA’s Sports Physical Therapy Section annual Team Concept Conference for several years. Drs. Phil Page and Bart Bishop presented 2 workshops at the December 2011 conference on Functional Exercise Progression and Lower Extremity Proprioceptive Rehabilitation using Thera-Band products. You can read more about the 2011 conference here.
As in past years, Performance Health donated the $600 in proceeds from demonstration product sales to the Section’s Legacy Fund that supports sports physical therapy research.
Performance Health Introduces New, Improved Biofreeze® Pain Reliever
Jan 3rd
Akron, Ohio – Performance Health introduces new, improved Biofreeze® Pain Reliever. For over 20 years, Biofreeze Pain Reliever has been helping people reduce their pain and manage discomfort. This market leading topical analgesic provides relief for millions of individuals suffering from sore or strained muscles, shoulder and arm discomfort, neck, hip and leg pain, back pain, painful joints, ankle and foot pain, and pain associated with bruising or arthritis.
Best. Biofreeze. Ever.
“We took the #1 clinically used and recommended topical analgesic and improved it based on customer feedback. The result is a formula that is preferred by 4 out of 5 topical analgesic users. We made it better in three key ways,” stated Doug Stuckey, Senior Product Manager, Performance Health. “First, we made the new formula more natural by adding an enhanced botanical blend and removing the paraben and propylene glycol. Next, we added two new effective skin conditioners so it applies easier and penetrates quickly. And finally, we created a colorless option for patients and practitioners who prefer dye-free products.”
New, improved Biofreeze is 100% paraben-free and propylene glycol-free, and is available in Green and Colorless (dye-free) versions. Its new botanical blend includes ilex, arnica, aloe, boswellia, calendula, green tea, burdock More >
