Elastic band resistance for shoulder rehabilitation: Clinical applications and practical exercises

With a paradigm shift towards objectivity, measurements and treatments that prioritize numerical values have become more important to the rehabilitative process for medical practitioners. This objectivity is important for assessing musculoskeletal status as well as informing exercise prescription, the shoulder being the focus of this paper. Previously many physiotherapeutic tests and training interventions have been performed with little thought given to load quantification. For example, elastic band resistance is a commonly employed method of applying load to injured tissue, however, the overload provided by this type of resistance difficult to quantify. The implementation of a novel strain gauge device in-line with elastic-based resistance allows for the ability to measure and determine musculoskeletal loads, enabling better monitoring and measurement of loading parameters for the optimization of treatment and client outcomes. In this Masterclass, we discuss the clinical applications of strain gauge implementation in elastic based resistance training for the physical therapist with a focus on practical exercises for shoulder strengthening.