The use of elastic band exercise as a physical therapy intervention for improving shoulder function in older adults: a scoping review

Abstract

Many older adults experience a decline in shoulder function due to aging. This decline leads to limitations in daily activities and a lower quality of life. The incorporation of physical therapy interventions through elastic band exercises has demonstrated improved overall physical faculties among older adults. However, there is limited literature regarding the effect of these interventions on shoulder function in older adults. This scoping review summarized the current literature regarding elastic band exercises targeting shoulder function in older adults. A systematic literature search was performed using the Scopus and PubMed databases. An additional manual search was conducted using the PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database). Articles were included if they were published in a peer-reviewed journal in 2017–2021. After assessing eligibility, five randomized controlled trials articles were included in the analysis. We discovered that two types of elastic interventions were applied to older adults: namely, the TheraBand and tube bands. We observed heterogeneity in participant characteristics among the studies (healthy older adults, older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and older adults with sarcopenic obesity). The duration of the exercise intervention ranged from 3 to 36 sessions. Only one study measured shoulder function as the primary outcome. Our findings suggest that elastic band exercises have been applied to older adults in various conditions and tended to be effective; however, evidence on this topic is insufficient.

Effects of elastic band resistance training on the physical and mental health of elderly individuals: A mixed methods systematic review

“…Martins et al [ 32 ] focused only on the effects of band resistance training on muscle strength parameters. Kim et al [ 33 ] mainly studied the influence of elastic band exercise on shoulder function in elderly individuals, but did not explore the influence of resistance training on mental health. Yeun [ 34 ] investigated the influence of resistance training with an elastic band on the flexibility and balance of elderly individuals in the community, and included an intervention of resistance training with an elastic band, plus other interventions.…”

Effectiveness of elongation band exercise on the upper limb strength and range of motion among older adults

“…Incorporating resistance training as part of a preventive exercise program can improve flexibility, balance ( Lopes et al, 2019 ), muscle strength ( Kim et al, 2021 ), and functional capacity in older adults ( de Oliveira et al, 2017 ). The exercise training described in these reports, however, was performed using an elastic band, with exercise load intensity set at approximately 70% of maximum muscle strength ( de Oliveira et al, 2017 ; Kim et al, 2021 ; Lopes et al, 2019 ). The main concerns with exercise training among older adults include limited training environment(s) and the increased risk for injury from intense exercise.…”

Effects of Tai Chi and Resistance Band Training on Elderly’s Balance and Strength

“…Resistance training is an effective exercise modality for increasing muscle strength and mass, which are important components of fitness and health (Bird et al, 2005;Winett & Carpinelli, 2001;Daniel, 2020). Incorporating resistance training as part of a preventive exercise program can improve flexibility, balance (Lopes et al, 2019), muscle strength (Kim et al, 2021), and functional capacity in older adults (de Oliveira et al, 2017;Minjoon et al, 2022).…”