Resistance Bands

[Puffin]

Hi folks,
I'm on the way back from a bicep/neck/shoulder injury and my physio suggested (kinda warned) that I don't go straight onto dumbell work just yet but work with resistance bands.

It's not my preference but I can see his point. There is plenty of info on the net about the exercises to do with them but I'd like some inside info.

- Has anyone used them?
- Any tips you're willing to share?
- Any hazards?
- best brand?

thanks folks,

[stikfigure]

Originally Posted by Puffin

Hi folks,
I'm on the way back from a bicep/neck/shoulder injury and my physio suggested (kinda warned) that I don't go straight onto dumbell work just yet but work with resistance bands.

It's not my preference but I can see his point. There is plenty of info on the net about the exercises to do with them but I'd like some inside info.

- Has anyone used them?
- Any tips you're willing to share?
- Any hazards?
- best brand?

thanks folks,

do you mean to say your physio just said use resistance bands and didn't tell you how or give you any to take home? that seems silly.

I do use them in my regular routine to do external and internal rotators of the shoulder as well as another combination rotator cuff moves. But in my world they're an adjunct not a substitute for free weights.

You can strain yourself using the bands just as easily as the weights if the form is wrong. He really should have given you more specific guidance. Will you see him again?

(I just use plain old elastic tubing that comes in different widths and resistances.)

[Puffin]

My physio is great - if anything it was probably me that didn't pay enough attention!! He didn't give me any but did tell me to go get some. He explained how to use them for some initial biceps work (which is what I tore), by standing on the middle and kinda stretching the band up, much like lifting dumbells in a dumbell curl (probably haven't explained that very well...)
The band feels very different though and gravity doesn't come into play like it does with weights. Just finding it pretty weird to get used to the elasticity and not knowing if the feeling I'm getting is normal (whereas with dumbells I know if it feels 'right'). I do still see him so next time I'll take my gear and pay a bit more attention.