title: At-home resistance tubing strength training increases shoulder strength in the trained and untrained limb.
abstract: The purpose was to determine if an at-home resistance tubing strength training program on one shoulder (that is commonly used in rehabilitation settings) would produce increases in strength in the trained and untrained shoulders via cross-education. Twenty-three participants were randomized to TRAIN (strength-trained one shoulder; n = 13) or CONTROL (no intervention; n = 10). Strength training was completed at home using resistance tubing and consisted of maximal shoulder external rotation, internal rotation, scaption, retraction, and flexion 3 days/week for 4 weeks. Strength was measured via handheld dynamometry and muscle size measured via ultrasound. For external rotation strength, the trained (10.9 ± 10.9%) and untrained (12.7 ± 9.6%) arm of TRAIN was significantly different than CONTROL (1.6 ± 13.2%; -2.7 ± 12.3%; pooled across arm; P < 0.05). For internal rotation strength, the trained (14.8 ± 11.3%) and untrained (14.6 ± 10.1%) arm of TRAIN was significantly different than CONTROL (6.4 ± 11.2%; 5.1 ± 8.8%; pooled across arm; P < 0.05). There were no significant differences for scaption strength (P = 0.056). TRAIN significantly increased muscle size in the training arm of the supraspinatus (1.90 ± 0.32 to 1.99 ± 0.31 cm), and the anterior deltoid (1.08 ± 0.37 to 1.21 ± 0.39 cm; P < 0.05). This study suggests that an at-home resistance tubing training program on one limb can produce increases in strength in both limbs, and has implications for rehabilitation after unilateral shoulder injuries.
authors.affiliation: College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
authors.forename: C R A
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Magnus
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boychuk
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Farthing
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057645:Deltoid Muscle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012399:Rotation; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D012648:Self Care; D012782:Shoulder / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: cross-training; rehabilitation; rotator cuff; unilateral training