Research and News
Posts tagged older adult
Power training with Thera-Band elastic resistance more effective for older adults
Jun 23rd
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As we age, we lose muscle mass through a condition called “sarcopenia,” which is the age-related loss of muscle fibers. Sarcopenia can lead to decreases in strength and function in older adults, which can increase the risk for disability and injury.Muscular power and reaction time are also important components of function and injury prevention for older adults; specifically, reduced strength of ankle dorsiflexion is associated with an increased risk of falls (Skelton et al. 2002; Whipple et al. 1987). In addition, decreased reaction time is associated with increased falls and motor vehicle accidents in older adults. Power training, which is essentially strength training performed at higher velocities, is becoming increasingly popular for older adult exercise programs. Many studies have shown that strength training exercises can increase strength and function in older adults, but few if any have examined effects of ankle power training on performance or injury prevention in older adults. In addition, few studies have directly compared elastic and isotonic resistance training programs.
Canadian researchers investigated the effects of power training with Thera-Band® exercise bands compared to machine-based resistance training for More >
A successful treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis
May 19th
Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition caused by an inflammation of the plantar fascia, affecting nearly 2 million in the US annually (Martin et al. 2001). While most cases of plantar fasciitis are resolved with conservative treatment within a year, severe cases usually result in a surgical intervention.
A recent case report in the Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy describes a successful intervention in a 61 year old patient with a 10-year history of chronic plantar fasciitis who used night splints. Plantar fasciitis can increase the risk of falls in older adults, although the condition is not as prevalent as in younger adults.
In the case report, physical therapists Stephanie Peplinski and Kent Irwin described their 4-week intervention. The patient received 8 sessions of individualized physical therapy, twice a week for 4 weeks. She received soft tissue mobilization and iontophoresis with dexamethasone, and performed 4-direction ankle Thera-Band resistance band exercises for 10 repetitions in the clinic and at home. She also used a balance board and foam pad for balance training in the clinic.
At discharge, she reported decreased pain and improved activities of daily living (ADL). This case report demonstrated that an individualized physical therapy program with targeted interventions can improve the symptoms in chronic More >
Improving functional ability in older adults with Thera-Band
Apr 14th
As the population continues to age, the number of functionally-impaired and disabled older adults will increase as well, leading to an increase in the need for institutionalization and associated increase in healthcare costs. Several research studies have shown that exercise is effective at improving function in older adults; however, few have examined the effects of exercise in functionally limited adults.
Researchers wanted to know if a progressive resistance training program using Thera-Band® elastic bands was effective at improving strength and function in a group of independent-living older adults with functional limitations. They recruited 87 subjects averaging 75 years old with functional limitations measured by the SF-36 test. They were randomly assigned to either an exercise group or a non-exercising control group.
The exercise participants performed 13 progressive Thera-Band exercises once per week in a group setting. Because they were using elastic resistance, the participants were instructed to perform the same exercises as home twice per week as well. All subjects were evaluated before, during, and after the 16 week program. Download the Thera-Band exercise program here.
By 9 weeks, nearly all had progressed in Thera-Band elastic resistance levels from red to blue bands. The exercise group significantly increased in upper body and lower body More >
Regular exercise in assisted living maintains function and reduces falls
Dec 16th
As the aging population increases, many older adults are moving into assisted living facilities to maintain their independence. Exercise programs are now a standard offering at most assisted living facilities not only as a ‘benefit,’ but also to maintain functional independence and prevent falls. Programs such as the First Step to Active Health using Thera-Band resistance bands have been successfully used in many older adult exercise programs.
Physical therapy researchers at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut evaluated the impact of a wellness program on function and falls in older adults at an assisted living facility. The program included upper and lower body strength and flexibility activities using free weights and resistance bands. All residents completed a functional baseline screening including balance, strength and cognition. The baseline measurement was used to help direct the resident into a specific program such as a fall prevention class or aquatic exercise regimen. Their participation in these programs was tracked over 12 months, and 2 groups were identified: regular and non-regular participants. After 12 months, the regular exercise group improved or remained the same level of balance and endurance, while the non-regular exercisers declined. In addition, the non-regular exercise group had more falls than regular exercisers.
Thera-Band resistance bands More >
Exercise program effective for Japanese very elderly
Nov 18th
Exercise is an effective intervention to reduce the decline in functional ability in older adults. Thera-Band elastic resistance bands have been used in several exercise studies focused on reducing disability in older adults. Japanese researchers developed a 12-month multi-component exercise program including both home-based and group-based exercise sessions. 31 older adults with low levels of disability participated in an exercise group, while 34 subjects were recruited to serve as a control group. All subjects were between 74 and 96 years old.
The 90-minute exercise sessions performed by the exercise group included flexibility, strength, endurance, and balance activities. Exercises incorporated use of elastic resistance bands and exercise balls. The exercise group performed 10 minutes of stretching and strengthening at home every day that they were not in the weekly group sessions. Download the exercise protocol here.
After the year-long program, the individuals in the exercise group increased in lower body strength and flexibility significantly more than the control group. They also maintained grip strength, gait, and mobility compared to the control group, who declined significantly in these areas. Balance did not change significantly in either group. Interestingly, however, health-related quality of life did not improve. One important finding the authors reported was that the More >
