Academy Blog » exercise

EMG supports “Wall Walk” exercise with Thera-Band® Resistance

Dr. Phil Page — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:19:22 +0000

Sue Falsone PT, ATC from Athletes Performance in Phoenix Arizona, quantified the EMG activity of the rotator cuff and scapular muscles during a new shoulder exercise using Thera-Band® resistance. She found that that “Wall Walk” and “Wall Slide” exercises had higher activation of the infraspinatus muscle of the rotator cuff with the Thera-Band resistance than without. In addition, the lower trapezius muscle was activated significantly more, while the upper trapezius was activated less with the resistance, compared to without resistance. “These findings show that adding Thera-Band resistance to the Wall-Walk exercise may help restore scapular muscle balance, which is typically our goal in shoulder rehabilitation,” said Falsone, who also works with the Los Angeles Dodgers. “It’s important to know exactly what muscles are being activated during these exercises so we can make better clinical decisions,” added Falsone. She presented her findings at the TRAC 2009 meeting in Cancun, Mexico. Read the research abstract here.

Visit the Thera-Band Academy Shoulder Rehab Center Here.

Both Thera-Band Elastic and Aquatic Exercise Improve Blood Pressure and Lipid Levels

Dr. Phil Page — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:18:21 +0000

Juan Carlos Colado, PhD of the University of Valencia in Spain, compared the effects of strength training with Thera-Band resistance with aquatic resistance. He used the OMNI scale to quantify the intensity levels of both exercise groups. “We found the OMNI scale can be used successfully in strength training programs that don’t provide directly measurable resistance levels such as elastic and aquatic exercise,” said Colado. After 24 weeks, there was no significant difference between the training groups: both groups significantly increased their fat free mass, decreased their fat mass, increased their HDL levels and decreased their diastolic blood pressure. In addition, both groups significantly improved their physical performance after training. “Thera-Band and aquatic resistance are equally effective, but Thera-Band exercise is obviously more accessible and cost effective,” added Colado. Dr. Colado presented his findings at the TRAC 2009 meeting in Cancun, Mexico. Read the research abstract here.

Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention & Performance Enhancement Screening for Professional Tennis Players

Dr. Phil Page — Sat, 16 May 2009 23:06:49 +0000

by Todd S. Ellenbecker, DPT, MS, SCS, OCS, CSCS

For the last three years, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) has provided musculoskeletal screenings to its players at the Italian Open in Rome Italy. Led by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Gary Windler of Charleston, South Carolina, and physical therapist Todd Ellenbecker of Scottsdale, Arizona, these screenings consist of a series of musculoskeletal tests focusing on scapula and core stability, rotator cuff strength, and both upper and lower body flexibility and range of motion measurement.

Testing with Thera-Band Soft Weights

One of the key components of this program is the immediate follow-up of exercises for tennis players following their testing. Results are immediately tabulated and shared with the player, his coach, and physiotherapist, and often their personal strength and conditioning specialist. Based on the test results, players are given a series of individualized, tennis-specific exercises which utilize the Thera-Band® product line. These include Thera-Band elastic bands, tubing, and loops; Stability Trainers, Pro Series exercise balls, FlexBars, and Soft Weights. These products have been chosen due to their effectiveness as well as for their portability since professional tennis players travel most weeks of the year and need to have their exercise programs accessible to them at all times. Exercises to increase the strength and endurance of the posterior rotator cuff as well as hip and core training using the new Thera-Band loops are the most popular products given.

ATP Physios with Thera-Band Products in Rome, Italy in 2009

To view video demonstrations of exercises using Thera-Band loops, click here

Visit the Tennis Resource Center at Thera-Band Academy for exercises for tennis and more.

Todd Ellenbecker is the Clinical Director of the Physiotherapy Associates Scottsdale Sports Clinic, and National Director of Clinical Research for Physiotherapy Associates, as well as Director of Sports Medicine ATP World Tour. He also serves on the Thera-Band Research Advisory Committee.

Exercise as good as surgery for knee arthritis

Dr. Phil Page — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:51:17 +0000

Knee osteoarthritis affects millions around the world with pain and disability. There is no known cure for arthritis, and the course of treatment is based on symptom management through medication, surgery and physical therapy. Some arthritis sufferers believe that exercise may cause more harm than good, and typically opt for arthroscopic surgery to ‘clean-out’ the knee. In addition to the cost of surgery, there are obvious risks. Despite the high number of arthroscopic surgeries for knee arthritis (also known as “debridement”), little evidence supported its efficacy.

Researchers from the University of Western Ontario in Canada performed a randomized controlled trial (the highest level of evidence) on 190 patients with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis. Their goal was to determine if physical and medical therapy was as effective as arthroscopic surgery. The exercise program lasted for 12 weeks, including one hour per week supervised by a therapist, and daily exercise twice a day. After the 12 weeks, the patients continued their home programs unsupervised.

The researchers found that physical therapy, including Thera-Band exercises was as effective as arthroscopic surgery for treating knee osteoarthritis. Both groups had similar outcomes for pain and function after a 2 year follow-up. The results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggest a structured physical therapy program including Thera-Band elastic resistance can be as effective as arthroscopic surgery for knee osteoarthritis.

Kirkley A et al. A randomized trial of arthroscopic surgery for osteoarthritis of the knee. New England Journal of Medicine 359(11):1097-107

View the Abstract in PubMed Here