Theraband Applications for Improved Upper Extremity Wall-Slide Exercises.

CONTEXT: The wall-slide exercise is commonly used in clinic and research settings. Theraband positioning variations for hip exercises have been investigated and used, but Theraband positioning variations for upper extremity wall-slide exercises, although not commonly used, have not been examined.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of different Theraband positions (elbow and wrist) on the activation of the scapular and shoulder muscles in wall-slide exercises and compare these variations with each other and with regular wall-slide exercises for the upper limbs.

DESIGN

Descriptive laboratory study.

SETTING

University laboratory.

PATIENTS OR OTHER

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 20 participants (age = 23.8 ± 3 years, height = 176.5 ± 8.14 cm, mass = 75.3 ± 12.03 kg, body mass index = 24.23 ± 4.03) with healthy shoulders.

INTERVENTION(S): Participants performed wall-slide exercises (regular and 2 variations: Theraband at the elbow and Theraband at the wrist) in randomized order.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Surface electromyographic activity of the trapezius (upper trapezius [UT], middle trapezius [MT], and lower trapezius [LT]), infraspinatus, middle deltoid (MD), and serratus anterior (SA) muscles.

RESULTS

Regular wall-slide exercises elicited low activity in the MD and moderate activity in the SA muscles (32% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction [MVIC] in the SA), whereas the Theraband-at-elbow and Theraband-at-wrist variations elicited low activity in the MT, LT, infraspinatus, and MD muscles and moderate activity in the SA muscle (46% and 34% of MVIC in the SA, respectively). The UT activation was absent to minimal (classified as 0% to 15% of MVIC) in all wall-slide exercise variations. The Theraband-at-wrist variation produced lower UT:MT, UT:LT, and UT:SA levels compared with the regular wall-slide exercise and Theraband-at-elbow variation.

CONCLUSIONS

In shoulder rehabilitation, clinicians desiring to activate the scapular stabilization muscles should consider using the Theraband-at-wrist variation. Those seeking more shoulder-abduction activation and less scapular stabilization should consider using the Theraband-at-elbow variation of the upper extremity wall-slide exercise.