Flexible foil exercise and shoulder internal and external rotation strength.
BACKGROUND
The efficacy of exercise using a flexible foil to increase strength in the shoulder rotator muscles is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of exercises using a flexible foil (Bodyblade) with exercises using elastic bands on shoulder internal and external rotator muscle strength.


METHODS
We used a randomized, controlled pretest-posttest design.


METHODS
Laboratory.


METHODS
Forty young adults with no previous shoulder injury.


METHODS
Experimental subjects participated in an 8-week program of internal and external rotation exercises consisting of 3 sessions per week.


METHODS
Strength was tested by internal and external rotation isometric and isokinetic strength tests at 60 degrees .s (-1) and 120 degrees .s (-1).


RESULTS
The group exercising with elastic bands had a greater pretest-posttest increase in maximal internal rotation isometric torque at 10 degrees of internal rotation and greater maximal external rotation isometric torque at 65 degrees of external rotation than the control group. The group using a flexible foil did not show an increase in strength significantly different from either the control or elastic band groups. We found no other statistically significant differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results do not support the use of a flexible foil for strength gains in shoulder internal and external rotation in the asymptomatic young adult population.
Sugimoto
Daisuke
D
Physical Therapy Program, University of Rhode Island, Kingston ,RI, USA. blanpied@uri.edu
Blanpied
Peter
P