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How
do Therabands work? What are they good for?
Would
bands or tubing work better for me?
What
are Theraband bands and tubing made of?
Should I
get standard or latex-free Therabands?
What
resistance level should I get?
How
do I know when to move up a resistance level?
How far
can I stretch the bands or tubing?
How much force is
produced when Therabands are stretched?
How long do
Therabands last?
When should I
replace my bands or tubing?
Is it okay to
tie Therabands to a door knob or close them in a door?
Can
Therabands be used in a swimming pool?
Is there a
guide that shows how to use Therabands?
Why
should I choose Therabands instead of some other resistance
band?
Therabands work on
strength, range of motion, and improving the cooperation of
muscle groups. They are nearly ideal fitness gear, being
versatile, inexpensive, lightweight and portable. With
Therabands, you can indeed tuck a gym in your
pocket!
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Generally, whether you
get bands or tubing is a matter of personal preference.
Both behave in similar ways and demonstrate similar properties
in progressive resistance. However, bands do allow more
surface area to be covered during some resistive exercises.
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Standard Theraband
resistive bands and tubing are made of natural rubber
latex. Latex-free Therabands are made of synthetic rubber.
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Latex-free bands were developed for people
with latex sensitivities. There's no special benefit to going
with latex-free instead of latex - so long as you are not
allergic to latex, of course! Resistances are roughly comparable
either way, though the latex bands are broader and the
latex-free somewhat thicker. Care would be the same in either
case; longevity too.
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The important thing is
to start with a resistance level suitable for your current
level of fitness. If you're not sure, the light and heavy
resistance 3-packs offer a choice of resistances so you can
experiment to find the best fit.
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As you use the band,
you will find your muscle
strength and endurance improving. The exercises become
easier and easier to do. The time to move to a more
resistant band is when you are ready for more challenge. This increases the
intensity of the exercise.
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It's probably best not
to stretch beyond 300% (with a 1 foot piece, this would mean 3
feet). If you stretch more than 500% (for example,
stretching a 1 foot piece to 6 feet), the band/tubing is more
likely to break. Resistance also increases sharply after
500%.
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How much
force is produced when Therabands are stretched?
The force is directly
related to amount of stretch. Each color provides a
certain amount of resistance at the same percent
elongation. For example, a 1-foot piece stretched to
2-feet (100% elongation) has the same force as a 2-foot piece of
the same color stretched to 4-feet.
When you increase band
resistance level, you increase that set amount of force.
So, when you stretch two bands, one yellow and the other gold,
to 100% elongation, the yellow band will produce 3 pounds of
force, and the gold, a walloping 21.5 pounds! Refer to our
resistance level chart for detailed information.
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This depends (Don't you love definite
answers?). With proper care and use, resistive bands and
tubing can last for a very long time.
When kept in a cool, dark environment, the
bands and tubing "keep" for years. Exposure to
temperature extremes, chlorine, and sunlight, however, decrease
their "shelf-life."
How you use the Therabands also makes a
difference. Although Therabands have been tested at over
10,000 repetitions without any breakage, they are subject to
normal wear and tear. Bands and tubing that are heavily
used - for instance, in a physical therapy clinic - might need
to be replaced every 1-2 months.
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When should I replace my bands
or tubing?
Before use, always inspect your Therabands for
signs of wear, such as small tears, abrasions or cracks.
These small tears usually occur at the point where the band or
tubing connects to an attachment device, so check that
carefully. If you do find visible signs of wear, replace
the bands or tubing. Otherwise, they should be safe to
use.
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Is it okay to tie Therabands
to a door knob or close them in a door?
We don't recommend doing this. Tying the
exerciser to a door knob or closing them in a door can lead to
early breaking. To prolong the life of your Therabands,
use the proper accessories (Theraband door anchor, exercise
handle, and assist device) and avoid poking with jewelry,
fingernails, or other sharp objects.
Need to grasp your bands or tubing? Use
the Theraband exercise handles or assist device. To
connect to the arms or legs, use the Theraband extremity strap.
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Therabands can be used in a pool, but the
chlorine will cause them to deteriorate more quickly.
After each use in the pool, rinse the bands in tap water and hang
them up to dry.
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Is there a guide that shows
how to use Therabands?
Why not go to the experts? For a general
introduction to resistive exercises using Theraband, the
company's own Instruction
Manual is hard to beat. It offers 29 pages
of exercises, and we sell it for only $3.75.
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TheraBands are the only resistive exercise
bands endorsed by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
Their quality and reliability has been well established through
years of use in clinics, research labs, and homes.
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