Academy Blog » elbow pain

Introducing the newest THERA-BAND FlexBar® Resistance Option: Yellow!

Dr. Phil Page — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:42:43 +0000

Akron, OH – Performance Health / Hygenic Corporation announces the introduction of new Thera-Band FlexBar, Yellow Resistance, for upper extremity rehabilitation and stabilization training. New Thera-Band FlexBar Yellow is the Extra Light resistance option for beginning rehab, pediatric, or geriatric patients, joining the Thera-Band color progression family of Red/Light, Green/Medium, and Blue/Heavy resistances.

Thera-Band FlexBar is 12” in length, contains a ribbed surface for secure grip, and is supplied in 4 progressive resistances beginning with new Thera-Band Flexbar Yellow and progressing to Red, Green, and Blue resistance levels for greater challenge. Made from dry natural rubber, the resistance of the Thera-Band FlexBar is increased by the force required to bend, twist, or oscillate the bar while holding it securely at one or both ends.

Thera-Band FlexBar is used routinely by therapists and trainers for clinical rehab and sold by Thera-Band authorized healthcare distributors.

"Reverse Tyler Twist" with the Thera-Band FlexBar for Golfers Elbow

Dr. Phil Page — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:46:03 +0000

Recently, New York physical therapist Tim Tyler developed and researched the “Tyler Twist” exercise with the Thera-Band® FlexBar® for his patients with lateral epicondylitis, or “tennis elbow.” The exercise was so effective that he terminated the clinical trial because the test subjects were improving so quickly over the control group of patients. As word of the success of his exercise spread, many people began to ask, “Will a similar exercise with the FlexBar work for golfer’s elbow?” Golfers Elbow is technically known as ‘medial epicondylitis’ and is characterized by pain on the medial (inside) of the elbow, in contrast to the lateral elbow pain of tennis elbow.

In response to the many requests for an exercise for Golfer’s Elbow, Tyler invented the “Reverse Tyler Twist.” The exercise uses the same Thera-Band FlexBar color progression, and emphasizes an eccentric contraction of the wrist flexors and pronators, in contrast to eccentric contraction of the wrist extensors with the Tyler Twist. “We think the Reverse Tyler Twist will have similar results for medial elbow pain, but we don’t know for sure, so we’re going to do a study on this exercise as well,” said Tyler, a research associate with the Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma (NISMAT).

Click here to see the instructional video for the exercise.

New FlexBar Exercise: “Tyler Twist” effective for Tennis Elbow

Dr. Phil Page — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:20:02 +0000

Tim Tyler PT, ATC from Pro Sports PT in Scarsdale New York, investigated a novel exercise using the Thera-Band® FlexBar for tennis elbow. “We know that eccentric exercise is very effective at treating tendinopathies such as tennis elbow,” said Tyler. His exercise, the “Tyler Twist” involves eccentric wrist extension, and was easily performed at home for 3 sets of 15 repetitions. Compared to patients receiving standard treatment, those performing the FlexBar exercise along with standard treatment had significantly greater improvements in strength and pain. “We had to stop the study early because we didn’t feel it was ethical that people weren’t getting better on the standard treatment protocol alone, so we gave everyone the FlexBar exercise,” said Tyler. His findings were presented in July at the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine and received attention from the international press. “Using the FlexBar for tennis elbow is not only clinically effective, it’s cost-effective as well,” added Tyler. He presented his findings at the TRAC 2009 meeting in Cancun, Mexico. Read the research abstract here.

Visit the Thera-Band Academy Tennis Elbow Center here.