Research and News
Posts tagged therapeutic exercise
New Thera-Band® exercise helps replicate biomechanical function of ankle
Sep 9th
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Exercises for ankle sprains often include strengthening of the peroneus longus muscle, usually with Thera-Band® elastic bands or ankle weights. Based on its origin and insertion, the peroneus longus muscle is thought to be responsible for ankle eversion and plantar flexion. However, in terms of its true function, the peroneus longus is an important stabilizer of the first ray during closed-chain weight bearing, creating a rigid lever for push-off (Subotnick, 1975).
Electromyographic (EMG) evidence shows that the peroneus longus peaks in activation during the latter half of the stance phase when the weight of the body is over the forefoot in a plantar-flexed position. Despite this evidence, peroneus longus exercises are often prescribed in an open-chain against resistance during eversion movements.
In the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, physical therapy researchers investigated the effectiveness of more functional closed-chain exercises on activation of the peroneus longus while measuring EMG activity. They evaluated closed-chain plantar flexion (heel raises) with a 5 pound laterally-directed resistance provided by a yellow Thera-Band resistance band placed around the middle of the foot. A yellow band stretched to 200% of its More >
Therapeutic Exercise Program for Hip Osteoarthritis: A Case Report
Sep 6th
Arthritis of the hip is associated with pain both at rest and during weight-bearing. Current recommendations for managing hip osteoarthritis include therapeutic exercises as a first choice of treatment. Hip pain is one of the most common limiting factors when performing hip osteoarthritis exercises. These exercise programs are often provided individually by physical therapists, as there are few if any therapeutic exercise protocols for hip osteoarthritis patients in the literature. While strengthening exercises remain the most common type of exercise prescription for hip osteoarthritis patients, balance exercises are also important because of deficits in proprioception and postural stability in these patients. Thera-Band® Stability Trainers have been successfully used in hip patient exercise programs (Boeers et al. 2010).
Norwegian physical therapists published a case report on a 58 year old woman with hip osteoarthritis. They included strength, flexibility, and balance exercises using foam balance pads. The patient received 19 sessions of physical therapy over 12 weeks and improved in pain, strength and function at a 6 month follow-up. Download the therapeutic exercise program for hip arthritis here. While the hip osteoarthritis physical therapy protocol was successful in this patient, a randomized controlled trial is needed to determine the true effectiveness of the program in other patients. Thera-Band Stability trainers provide progressive More >
Thera-Band® exercise program successful in treating occupational shoulder impingement
Aug 6th
Several studies have shown that exercise programs including Thera-Band® resistance bands are effective at reducing the pain and dysfunction in patients with shoulder impingement. These patients often exhibit muscle imbalances of the scapular and rotator cuff muscles, leading to subacromial impingement. Overhead workers are particularly prone to shoulder impingement due to the demands of their job. Physical therapists in Brazil established a specific treatment program for 14 men in the school supply industry with chronic subacromial impingement syndrome averaging over 2 years duration of symptoms.
The 8-week program was performed and supervised by a physiotherapist in a treatment room at the work site twice a week. The patients were assessed for subjective pain and function before and after the program that include the following standardized sequence:
- Cryotherapy. Ice packs applied to anterior and posterior shoulder for 20 minutes
- Stretches. 3 sets of 30 seconds with 30 seconds rest between repetitions, performed on both shoulders for upper trapezius, posterior shoulder, and pectoralis minor (corner stretch)
- Thera-Band strengthening program: performed on both shoulders using progressive Thera-Band color-coded resistance bands . Participants began with mild tension on the band and stretched to approximately one-third the original resting length with 1 minute rest between sets for 3 sets of 10 More >
