Research and News
Posts tagged elastic resistance
Abduction exercise after hip replacement: is there an optimal progression?
Aug 23rd
Patients undergoing total hip replacement often have weak hip abductor muscles before and after surgery. One of the most common hip exercises is sidelying hip abduction using an ankle weight. While this may be an effective exercise to activate the gluteus medius muscle, open-chain, non-weight bearing hip abduction is not specific to the function of the gluteus medius as a pelvic stabilizer in single-leg stance. Resisted lateral walking with a Thera-Band® Band Loop or Tubing with Cuffs is an example of such a closed-chain exercise as the patient steps away from the involved leg.
Researchers at the University of Kentucky evaluated electromyographic (EMG) levels of 4 exercises in total hip patients between 7 and 32 weeks post-operative. Dr. Cale Jacobs and colleagues were interested to see if there was a progression of muscle activation to guide clinical decisions about hip abduction exercise prescription. They published their findings in the Journal of Arthroplasty. The 4 exercises included 2 non-weight bearing and 2 weight-bearing exercises:
- Standing hip abduction with cuff weight at 1% of bodyweight, lifted to 30 degrees
- Sidelying hip abduction with cuff weight at 0.5% of bodyweight, lifted to 50% of leg length
- Standing hip abduction with uninvolved leg to 30 degrees
- Lateral walk with Thera-Band resistance band attached with More >
Young women can gain as much strength using the Thera-Band® Exercise Station as training with free weights
Aug 18th
Dr. Juan Carlos Colado of the University of Valencia in Spain has published several excellent research papers on the effectiveness of Thera-Band® elastic resistance for fitness. In particular, he and his colleagues have shown that elastic resistance is as effective as isotonic machines for increasing strength in middle-aged women (Colado & Triplett 2008). In addition, they showed that elastic resistance exercise intensity can be regulated using “perceived exertion.”
Dr. Colado has continued his scientific investigations on the efficacy of elastic resistance, this time comparing free weight exercise training to elastic tubing exercises using the Thera-Band Exercise Station. His results are published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine. 42 women were randomly assigned to either a free weight exercise group, a Thera-Band exercise group, or a non-exercising control group. The two exercise groups performed the same 15 upper and lower body exercises using the OMNI perceived exertion scale to standardize intensity between the groups. The intervention lasted eight weeks for two to four sessions per week. Subjects were tested for muscular strength before and after the training program.
After the eight week program, both exercise groups reported up to 29% improvement in upper and lower body strength, while the control group did not. There was no More >
Thera-Band® exercises safe and effective for patients with hemophilia and bleeding disorders
Jun 29th
Bleeding disorders such as hemophilia may cause bleeding in the joints, known as ‘hemarthrosis.’ This may lead to arthritis and subsequent joint replacement surgery. Exercise is an important component in managing hemarthrosis; however, many patients are hesitant to exercise for fear of injury and resulting bleeding. Few studies have examined the effectiveness of exercise in hemophilia patients.
Previously, German researchers created a strength and proprioceptive training program using Thera-Band elastic resistance and Stability Trainers. The results, published in 2003 noted improvements in strength and proprioception. The authors felt that a balance training component was important to prevent fall-related injuries in persons with hemophilia.
More recently, researchers at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center created an individualized 6-week program using Thera-Band resistance in 33 patients with bleeding disorders. They used 3 levels of progression based the participant’s strength. Download the Thera-Band exercise protocol here. The patients then used a specific color of Thera-Band resistance corresponding to the prescribed intensity (% of an isometric manual muscle test). Subjects also performed stretching and cardiovascular exercise. A physical therapist supervised the program 2 days a week. At the end of the 6-week program, there were no injuries, pain, edema, or bleeding episodes reported. The patients significantly More >
Elastic resistance exercise program effective in high school-based exercises for teens
Jun 22nd
Elastic tubing has been proven as effective as free weights again; this time, in teenagers. Several studies have shown that Thera-Band® elastic resistance has similar effects on muscle activation and strength as isotonic resistance (Andersen et al. 2010; Colado & Triplett 2008). Current physical activity guidelines recommend resistance training to improve muscular fitness in youths. A randomized, controlled study in Preventive Medicine by Australian researchers was performed to compare the effects of a resistance exercise program in 15 year old boys and girls using either elastic or isotonic free weight resistance compared to a control group. During the 8-week program, both groups trained twice a week with a PE teacher with a 1:15 instructor-to-participant ratio. They began each session with 5 minutes of aerobic activity and dynamic stretching. Resistance exercises were performed for 2 sets of 8 to 12 reps (Weeks 1-4 = 10-12 reps; Weeks 5-8 = 8-10 reps) with 60 second rests between sets. The 10 strengthening exercises were performed in 40-50 minutes in the same order. Both groups used the Borg scale at 15-18 with an 8-12RM; in other words, participants used a resistance with each exercise that caused fatigue with the last repetition with an exertion level of 15-18 More >
Study published in Physical Therapy journal on Thera-Band resistance vs. dumbbells
Apr 1st
In an Academy blog post in February, Thera-Band® resistance or dumbbells? New research supports both in the clinic, we reviewed a new research article published online in the Physical Therapy journal. The article is now available in print at the journal’s website. The landmark study showed that Thera-Band elastic resistance was as effective as dummbells at activating muscles during therapeutic exercises. In addition, the article validated the use of the Borg RPE scale in dosing the intensity of resistive exercises. For more information, read the press release here.
If you’d like to learn more about this study and other biomechanics behind elastic resistance training that will help your patient exercise prescription, attend one of our remaining “Beyond Bands” courses in Virginia or Kansas. In the course, healthcare professionals can learn the scientific and clinical application of elastic resistance and balance training.
