http://www.hygenicblog.com Research and News Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:33:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Copyright © Academy Blog 2011 ppage@hygenic.com (Academy Blog) ppage@hygenic.com (Academy Blog) http://www.hygenicblog.com/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg http://www.hygenicblog.com 144 144 Research and News Academy Blog Academy Blog ppage@hygenic.com no no http://www.hygenicblog.com/2011/10/13/exercises-after-achilles-tendon-reconstruction-an-emg-based-progression/ http://www.hygenicblog.com/2011/10/13/exercises-after-achilles-tendon-reconstruction-an-emg-based-progression/#comments Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:03:29 +0000 Dr. Phil Page http://www.hygenicblog.com/?p=2073 http://www.hygenicblog.com/2011/10/13/exercises-after-achilles-tendon-reconstruction-an-emg-based-progression/feed/ 0 0:00:01 Post-operative rehabilitation depends on 3 people: the surgeon, the patient, and the therapist. Obviously, the surgeon must be technically proficient, the patient must be compliant, and the therapist must promote healing without damaging the surgica[...] Post-operative rehabilitation depends on 3 people: the surgeon, the patient, and the therapist. Obviously, the surgeon must be technically proficient, the patient must be compliant, and the therapist must promote healing without damaging the surgical repair.  Orthopedic surgeons often have therapists follow specific rehabilitation protocols, usually based on tissue-healing timeframes. Tim Tyler PT ATC Prescribing therapeutic exercise at the appropriate dosage is essential since some tissue stress is necessary to facilitate proper healing; however, too much stress can damage the repair. Little is known about the stresses to tissues during Achilles tendon exercises. Thera-Band® Academy Scientific Advisory Board member Tim Tyler, PT ATC presented EMG analysis data on common Achilles exercises at the 2011 TRAC Annual Meeting.     Ten healthy subjects performed several common exercises, including Thera-Band resisted plantar flexion. The EMG activation levels are reported as a percentage of a maximal contraction:   Thera-Band Plantar Flexion 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% While EMG levels are not a direct measure of tissue stress, they can help establish an appropriate progression of high to low intensity activities. For example, Thera-Band ankle pumps should be prescribed prior to or at the time of full weight-bearing. Understanding these levels will help the clinician make better clinical decisions about prescribing exercises for Achilles tendon reconstruction rehabilitation.  His study is in press in the journal, Sports Health.   Read the abstract of his study here:  EMG Analysis of the Triceps Surae Muscle Complex During Achilles Tendon Rehabilitation Program Exercises Click here to learn more about all the research presented at TRAC 2011 Listen to a podcast interview with Tim about his project by clicking on the link below: ppage@hygenic.com no no http://www.hygenicblog.com/2011/08/29/trac-2011-a-better-exercise-for-trapezius-muscle-balance/ http://www.hygenicblog.com/2011/08/29/trac-2011-a-better-exercise-for-trapezius-muscle-balance/#comments Mon, 29 Aug 2011 05:01:40 +0000 Dr. Phil Page http://www.hygenicblog.com/?p=2013 http://www.hygenicblog.com/2011/08/29/trac-2011-a-better-exercise-for-trapezius-muscle-balance/feed/ 0 0:00:01 Trapezius muscle balance is important for normal shoulder function. Often in patients with impingement, the lower trapezius is much weaker than the upper trapezius. Traditional exercises to strengthen the lower trapezius such as prone shoulder flexi[...] Trapezius muscle balance is important for normal shoulder function. Often in patients with impingement, the lower trapezius is much weaker than the upper trapezius. Traditional exercises to strengthen the lower trapezius such as prone shoulder flexion may cause further impingement, creating a “catch 22” for clinicians: Is there a better exercise for the lower trapezius that doesn’t impinge the shoulder? Scientific Advisory Board member, Sue Falsone, PT, ATC, Vice President of Athletes’ Performance in Phoenix presented a pilot study of EMG activation of the upper and lower portions of the trapezius muscle during prone flexion with a cuff weight and 3 novel Thera-Band® tubing exercises at the 13th annual TRAC meeting in San Francisco, California. The “vector” principle of elastic exercise prescription creates vectors of resistance more specific to muscle function. Vector exercises for lower trapezius were developed to create a line of resistance in the direction of the fibers of the lower trapezius, and in the opposite direction of its action of retraction and depression. In Falsone’s pilot study, 10 healthy subjects without shoulder pain performed these 4 exercises in random order while Noraxon surface EMG data was captured and then normalized to a maximal contraction: Prone shoulder flexion with 3 pound cuff weight Vector scapular retraction with green Thera-Band tubing Vector scapular retraction plus step back with green Thera-Band tubing Vector scapular retraction plus scaption with green Thera-Band tubing She found that lower trapezius activation was greater in all 3 vector exercises, while the upper trapezius activation was less than the prone flexion exercise. In fact, the upper trapezius activation during vector exercises was half that of prone flexion! In patients with shoulder pain related to trapezius muscle imbalance, the lower trapezius vector exercise with Thera-Band elastic resistance may be better to bias the lower trapezius during rehabilitation exercises. Falsone plans to expand her pilot study with more subjects and publish her results next year. Read the abstract of her study here: EMG analysis of the upper and lower trapezius during Thera‐Band® elastic resistance exercises Click here to learn more about all the research at TRAC 2011. Be sure and listen to a podcast interview with Sue about her project: ppage@hygenic.com no no http://www.hygenicblog.com/2011/06/08/danish-researchers-feature-thera-band-tubing-at-acsm/ http://www.hygenicblog.com/2011/06/08/danish-researchers-feature-thera-band-tubing-at-acsm/#comments Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:36:19 +0000 Dr. Phil Page http://www.hygenicblog.com/?p=1893 http://www.hygenicblog.com/2011/06/08/danish-researchers-feature-thera-band-tubing-at-acsm/feed/ 0 http://www.hygenicblog.com/2010/12/01/muscle-activation-levels-for-advanced-exercises-using-the-exercise-ball/ http://www.hygenicblog.com/2010/12/01/muscle-activation-levels-for-advanced-exercises-using-the-exercise-ball/#comments Wed, 01 Dec 2010 12:54:20 +0000 Dr. Phil Page http://www.hygenicblog.com/?p=1440 http://www.hygenicblog.com/2010/12/01/muscle-activation-levels-for-advanced-exercises-using-the-exercise-ball/feed/ 1 http://www.hygenicblog.com/2010/11/29/thera-band-products-featured-in-evidence-based-shoulder-rehabilitation/ http://www.hygenicblog.com/2010/11/29/thera-band-products-featured-in-evidence-based-shoulder-rehabilitation/#comments Mon, 29 Nov 2010 17:56:04 +0000 Dr. Phil Page http://www.hygenicblog.com/?p=1437 http://www.hygenicblog.com/2010/11/29/thera-band-products-featured-in-evidence-based-shoulder-rehabilitation/feed/ 0