Research and News
Posts tagged rehabilitation
The Best Exercises for Rotator Cuff Strengthening
Mar 2nd
For years, the debate has continued on the ‘best’ exercises for strengthening shoulder muscles. Using electromyography (EMG) to measure muscle activity, researchers have attempted to determine which exercises have the highest levels of muscles activity for strengthening exercises. Several studies have examined EMG of common shoulder exercises to find the best exercises to strengthen the rotator cuff; in particular, the supraspinatus muscle. The “empty can” or “full can” exercises have been the most commonly performed exercise for supraspinatus strengthening, but controversy still exists in the literature.
While high muscle activation levels are often desirable, what’s more important is the relative activation of other muscles during the movement. For example, Dr. Michael Reinold and colleagues suggested in their 2007 paper that a good rotator cuff exercise should produce the greatest supraspinatus activity while minimizing the deltoid activation. Theoretically, reducing deltoid activation decreases the upward shear of the humerus during arm elevation, which may be desirable when prescribing exercise to strengthen the suprapsinatus in impingement patients.
In a study published in Medicine and Science and Sports and Exercise, subjects performed 5 isometric exercises in random order while measuring the EMG activity of the deltoid, supraspinatus, and infraspinatus. The exercises were: full can, empty can, prone elevation, elastic external More >
It’s not too late to exercise years after knee arthroscopy
Feb 22nd
Meniscus tears in the knee are relatively common, particularly in middle-aged athletic individuals. Arthroscopic surgery is often performed to remove damaged cartilage. Surprisingly, some orthopedic surgeons do not prescribe physical therapy after knee arthroscopy, feeling patients can recover on their own with a few simple exercises. Unfortunately, this may lead to long-term deficits in strength, range of motion, and function. Such deficits may predispose patients to knee osteoarthritis as well.
Scandinavian researchers wanted to evaluate the effects of a functional proprioceptive-based exercise program several years after arthroscopic meniscectomy. 30 patients at 4 years after their surgery were randomly assigned to the functional training group or a non-exercising control group. Both groups were tested for functional performance, strength, and self-reported pain and quality of life before and after the 4 month study.
The exercise group was led by a physiotherapist 3 times per week. A neuromuscular exercise program was developed including foam pads, balance boards and mini-trampolines. The program emphasized closed kinetic chain exercises, muscular coactivation, reactive neuromuscular training, and functional alignment. After 4 months, the functional exercise group had significantly better function and strength than the control group.
While improvements in strength and function can be expected in an exercise group compared to a non-exercising More >
Early Thera-Band® strengthening for rotator cuff tear repair may speed recovery
Feb 3rd
The rotator cuff is crucial for proper function of the shoulder and activities of daily living (ADL). Full-thickness rotator cuff tears require surgical repair and a lengthy recovery, often lasting 6 months or more. Early physical therapy exercises are very conservative, focusing more on allowing the repair to heal. For fear of re-injury, dynamic resistance exercise is sometimes avoided for the first 4 months post-op. Swedish researchers investigated if accelerated rehabilitation after full-thickness rotator cuff tear surgery was safe and beneficial. In their prospective, randomized and controlled trial, one group of 7 patients underwent traditional physical therapy, while another group of 7 patients performed accelerated physical therapy, utilizing dynamic elastic resistance earlier in the rehabilitation protocol. Patients in the accelerated group removed their slings after 4 weeks to begin gentle motion and early strengthening against aquatic resistance. They also initiated elastic resisted internal rotation and external rotation at 8 weeks. Both groups received clinical and home exercise programs. The researchers concluded that the accelerated group had slightly faster recovery than traditional therapy without any adverse effects. While these results are encouraging, further research with more subjects is obviously needed.
Klintberg IH, et al. Early loading in physiotherapy treatment after full-thickness rotator cuff repair: a prospective randomized More >
Thera-Band® exercise program after hip fracture successful
Dec 7th
Hip fracture rates are estimated to increase to 650,000 people by 2030. As many as one-third of hip fracture patients die within a year of their injury. Researchers at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore have been conducting a long-term trial of a home-based exercise program after hip fracture. The Thera-Band Academy has supported the study for several years with Thera-Band products. A recent article in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation journal described the success of the program in terms of implementation and design. In the randomized, controlled trial, 180 frail elderly females over 65 years old were randomly assigned to a control group of non-exercise and an experimental exercise group. Exercise started after discharge from acute therapy, and included Thera-Band Resistance Bands and cuff weights. Patients performed 3 sets of 10 repetitions of each exercise and gradually increased the resistance using the Thera-Band system of color progression. Sessions were held 5 times per week with some supervised sessions at home.
Download the hip fracture exercise protocol here
The authors noted that experts doubted that it would be possible to get frail older adults to exercise after hip fracture; however, the study was successful with an 82% participation rate and 78.5% compliance rate. The Baltimore Hip Study confirmed that More >
Thera-Band Loop Exercise Videos
Oct 13th
Check out these videos using the Thera-Band Loop for shoulder and lower extremity exercises with 3 of the nation’s top physical therapists and performance enhancement specialists:
Todd Ellenbecker, DPT, Physiotherapy Associates, Phoenix AZ
Sue Falsone PT ATC, Athletes Performance, Tempe AZ
Bart Bishop DPT, Sport & Spine Rehabilitation, Washington DC
