Shoulder And Arm Muscle Activity During Elastic Band Exercises Performed In A Hospital Bed

Dr. Lars Andersen and his colleagues in Copenhagen, Denmark demonstrated that several TheraBand CLX exercises can produce high muscle activation of the upper extremity muscles for patients in a hospital bed. They evaluated the surface EMG of 5 hospital-bed based exercises with the CLX while healthy subjects were sitting or lying down. They concluded that high upper extremity muscle activations were possible during hospital bed exercises and could be progressively graded with the CLX exercise band. They noted that the “diagonal pull” and “flyer” exercises were most effective, especially in a lying position. The researchers concluded, “The data presented here can be used by physiotherapists as a guideline for selecting suitable and effective strengthening exercises during in-hospital rehabilitation to counteract bed-rest related muscle atrophy in the upper body.”

Skals S et al. Shoulder and arm muscle activity during elastic band exercises performed in a hospital bed. Phys Sportsmed. 2018 Feb 23:1-9.