Research and News
Posts tagged sports performance
Developing Thera-Band exercise programs for overhead throwing athletes
Dec 17th
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The overhead athlete’s shoulder must be strong, flexible, and enduring for optimal performance. Shoulder exercises for the throwing athlete must reflect the specific functional demands required both for injury prevention and rehabilitation. Head Athletic Trainer for the Boston Red Sox, Mike Reinold, DPT, ATC, CSCS, published a “current concepts” paper on preventive and rehabilitative exercises for overhead throwing athletes.
Dr. Reinold and his colleagues outlined 6 principles of injury prevention and treatment programs:
1. Maintain range of motion
2. Maintain strength of the glenohumeral and scapulothoracic musculature
3. Emphasize dynamic stabilization and neuromuscular control
4. Core and lower body training
5. Off-season preparation
6. In-season maintenance
In addition, the authors outlined a rehabilitation progression for shoulder conditions including impingement, instability, and rotator cuff tendonitis. They recommend the use of products such as elastic tubing, exercise balls, soft weights, and band loops throughout the program. By understanding the demands on the throwing shoulder, rehabilitation professionals can improve their clinical decision-making and progressive exercise prescription. For more information on the overhead throwing shoulder, I recommend Dr. Reinold’s book co-written with Kevin Wilk PT and James Andrews MD, The Athlete’s Shoulder. The Thera-Band family More >
Neuromuscular training program reduces injury and improves performance in female athletes
Jul 20th
Balance training using Thera-Band® Stability Trainers and balance boards has been shown to prevent sports injuries in several studies. Researchers in Finland investigated the effects of an in-season neuromuscular training program in female floorball players. 27 teams were randomized into either a control group or intervention group that performed a 6-month neuromuscular exercise program. Each team was provided with an instruction book, 8 wobble boards, 8 balance pads, and 8, 1-kg soft weights. The program (download the sports neuromuscular warm-up protocol here) included balance, agility, plyometric, and stretching exercises.
After the 6-month season, participants in the exercise group significantly improved their static balance and jumping speed. There was no difference in improvement between groups in their jump height or agility running speed. In addition, the researchers found 66% lowered risk for leg injuries in the exercise group (the authors published a separate article in the British Medical Journal in 2008). These studies show that an in-season neuromuscular training program including Thera-Band stability trainers, wobble boards, and soft weights can prevent injury and improve performance in female athletes.
REFERENCE: Pasanen K, Parkkari J, Pasanen M, Kannus P. Effect of a neuromuscular warm-up programme on muscle power, balance, speed and agility: a randomised controlled study. Br J Sports 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
