Research and News
Research Updates
What to look for at APTA Combined Sections Meeting Feb 8-11
Feb 2nd
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As a Strategic Business Partner of the APTA and Partner in Research for the Foundation for Physical Therapy, Thera-Band® and Biofreeze® products are proud to participate in the largest national meeting for physical therapy next week. The American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting will take place February 8-11 in Chicago and bring together members from the variety of specialty Sections that make up the APTA.
Thera-Band products will be used in 2 pre-conference workshops on Wednesday, February 8. Director of Thera-Band Academy, Dr. Phil Page will be co-presenting a pre-conference workshop, “Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization and Athletic Performance” with Academy speaker, Clare Frank DPT. Sports PT Section Vice President Rob Manske DPT will be presenting “Test, Don’t Guess; Treat and Assess: The Art and Science Behind the Hands-on Examination and Treatment Strategies for Selected Shoulder and Knee Conditions.”
As usual, the Thera-Band/Biofreeze booth will be in the exhibit hall in Booth 822. Be sure to stop by and try out the new Thera-Band Foam Rollers and Wraps+ and Roller Massager+!
In the research presentations, two Scientific Advisory Board Members will be presenting their TRAC research on Biofreeze and Thera-Band. Todd More >
Thera-Band exercise program can improve lower limb biomechanics in females
Jan 30th
Female athletes are particularly susceptible to anterior knee pain and injury to their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). This increased risk is thought to result from poor dynamic control of the hip and knee, particularly when the foot hits the ground. The inability to control hip adduction, knee valgus, and internal rotation in the transition from an open- to closed-chain position of the leg may result from weakness of the hip abductor and external rotator muscles.
Researchers have suggested that females have weakness of their hip abductors, extensors, and external rotators (Prins et al. 2009). Exercise programs using Thera-Band® elastic resistance for females with anterior knee pain have been successful and featured previously in the Academy blog. These programs include core stabilization, as well as hip and knee strengthening exercises.
In the January 2012 journal, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Brazilian researchers published a study of 28 healthy female athletes. They wanted to determine if their exercise program could improve lower limb biomechanics, which theoretically may help reduce injuries. The subjects were assigned to either an 8 week training group or non-exercising control group.
The exercise group completed 3 phases of the exercise program:
Phase 1: Non-weight bearing exercises to enhance motor control and endurance of More >
Thera-Band Hip Exercise Reduces Anterior Knee Pain
Jan 15th
Anterior knee pain is often associated with hip muscle weakness of the abductors, extensors and external rotators. Dr. Vladimir Janda noted these muscles were particularly susceptible to inhibition and weakness. Hip weakness is particularly prevalent in females with anterior knee pain.
This hip weakness is thought to result in abnormal forces occurring at the knee during stance, allowing the femur to adduct more than normal, possibly leading to excessive force and/or abnormal tracking of the patellofemoral joint.
Traditionally, anterior knee pain was thought to result from quadriceps weakness, particularly from the vastus medialis muscle. Recent biomechanical and epidemiological data suggest however, that hip weakness may play a more important role in the etiology of patellofemoral pain.
Several studies have evaluated the use of elastic resistance in reducing patellofemoral pain. In a systematic review of elastic resistance in patellofemoral pain, Page concluded “Exercise interventions including elastic resistance in patients with PFPS are effective at reducing pain and improving function and strength.” Many protocols in the review, however, included both hip and knee strengthening…leaving the question of the effectiveness of hip exercises.
In the January 2012 issue of the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, Dr. Khalil Khayambashi and colleagues performed a randomized controlled trial of More >
Announcing the Thera-Band® Resistance Intensity Scale for Exercise (RISE)
Dec 15th
Thera-Band RISE
Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) is commonly used during exercise to indicate the intensity of exercise. Originally developed and used in cardiac rehab and aerobic exercise, more recently, RPE is also being used to regulate exercise intensity during resistance exercises. In fact, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends using RPE to dose resistance training exercises. The OMNI scale is a popular RPE scale that uses a 1 to 10 point scale with visual representation of the exercises performed.
Dr. Juan Colado of the University of Valencia in Spain has validated the use of perceived exertion during Thera-Band® resisted exercises using the OMNI-RES (resistance) scale. He has shown that using the scale is an effective method of dosing elastic resistance exercises for significant gains in strength and muscle mass (Colado & Triplett 2008). At the TRAC 2011 meeting, Dr. Colado presented a new scale specific to Thera-Band resistance bands.
20 healthy subjects performed frontal and lateral raises with Thera-Band elastic bands while rating their perceived exertion on the OMNI-RES scale, and then on his new RISE (Resistance Intensity Scale for Exercise) scale – for exertion rating of both the active muscles and the overall body. Using a regression analysis, Dr. Colado demonstrated high validity More >
Biofreeze reduces blood flow faster than ice
Nov 28th
Dr. Robert Topp
The Academy Blog has shared several articles about research on the mechanisms of Biofreeze from Dr. Robert Topp. Recently, he published an article in the Journal of Sports Rehabilitation comparing ice and Biofreeze® gel on blood flow and muscle strength. 17 healthy adults were assessed for blood flow in their radial artery and wrist extension strength after 3 different conditions: ice applied to the forearm, Biofreeze gel applied to the forearm, or a control condition.
The Biofreeze gel significantly reduced blood flow by 42% at 5 minutes after application, which returned to normal at 10 to 15 minutes after application. In contrast, the ice didn’t significantly decrease blood flow until 20 minutes of application at a 48% reduction.
Interestingly, ice caused a slowing of muscle recovery in wrist extension strength after application. This was in contrast to Biofreeze application, which actually increased wrist extension strength by 8%.
Dr. Topp and his colleagues suggest that the menthol in Biofreeze “may affect blood flow through neural mechanisms that respond faster…but are also quickly sensitized.”
In summary, Biofreeze topical analgesic creates a reduction in blood flow at a magnitude similar to ice (about 45%), but does so within the first 5 minutes. Ice takes 20 minutes More >
