In this post we discuss why it’s time to bin resistance bands for exercise rehab.
Watch this Bupa advert and see if anything jumps out at you. If you’re not aware, Bupa is a health insurance company.
Along with patients receiving high tech testing and treatment, did you notice a clip of a physiotherapist helping an elderly gentleman?
The patient is pushing his foot into a resistance band and straightening his knee. Akin to putting on your trousers and getting your foot caught in the elastic waist.
This advert unintentionally sums up the current medical approach to exercise rehab.
On the one hand we have incredible diagnostic instruments such as MRI scanners and advanced blood testing capabilities.
On the other, there’s a patient pushing against a piece of elastic for exercise.
So what’s wrong with using resistance bands for rehabilitation?
The first patent for resistance bands similar to the ones we have today was filed in 1895.
At that time we had just discovered viruses and cars looked like this.
Can you imagine anything from the 1890s being used in a medical environment today?
The use of exercise following injury, or in the presence of pain, must be accurately dosed.
This not only includes the resistance you’re pushing against, but how far and how fast you’re moving it.
Accurately monitoring this with a piece of elastic is near impossible.
You may have also noticed that resistance bands have a particular property, the more you pull on them, the more resistance they provide.
This offers a poor overall challenge to the muscular system and results in substandard results.
Summary
The fact we still use exercise equipment from the 1890s shows how far the discipline of exercise rehab has to go.
Exercises like the one shown in the video will do little for you.
Search out good quality resistance training equipment and bin the resistance bands. Your body will thank you for it.