Whether you’re recovering from an injury or just looking to improve athletic performance, utilizing rehabilitative equipment can help you feel better and improve your overall function.
Therabands
Commonly, a rehabilitation therapist first introduces Therabands to individuals as a means of strength training or recovery. However, individuals can utilize Therabands prior to the onset of injury and to enhance athletic performance.
Theraband exercises offer a variable amount of resistance, and whereas dumbbells isolate only one main muscle, using a Theraband allows an individual to travel through the full range of motion. You also get visual feedback in what you’re doing. If you’re using a dumbbell or barbell to increase strength or for rehabilitative purposes, you cannot see the angle at which you’re lifting the weight. However with a Theraband, you get visual feedback and can see if you’re lifting correctly.
There are also other benefits to Therabands. They’re a very inexpensive piece of rehabilitative equipment compared to things like dumbbells or large workout machines. They’re also lightweight and don’t take up much space, meaning they’re portable. You can easily put them in your suitcase or work bag for stretching and rehabilitative work away from home.
Foam Roller
Foam rollers have become quite popular in the last several years, and for good reason. Foam rolling offers the potential to relieve pain and help you reestablish proper movement patterns by stretching out tight muscles. Regularly rolling before and after workouts helps improve circulation and flexibility, and reduces inflammation.
Foam rolling can be a meditative and relaxing practice, helping to relieve stress and tension in your body. Taking the time to slow down and focus on your breath while foam rolling can have a calming effect on your mind and body.
Form rollers, like Therabands, are also inexpensive and portable, making them a great piece of equipment to own. Having a few foam rollers means you can have one for home, one for the gym, and another for the office.