ELONGATION BAND EFFECT FOR THE SHOULDER JOINT OF THE ELDERLY

M. Kim¹, H. Kuruma², T. Yakazu³, A. Lanuakum¹, R. Yosihda¹

Background: By the age of 65, the shoulder restrictions were common¹⁰⁾. Recently, a new exercise using elongation bands was introduced¹⁾. No studies are seen which measure the strength and range of motion of upper limbs.

Purpose: The use of an Elongation band on the elderly population and to check its effectiveness on the shoulder function.

Methods: 32 subjects were recruited. A person who has a history of upper limb surgery and a person who had dementia was excluded. All the subjects were randomly and equally divided into the EB group (using elongation band) and Voluntary motion group (without elongation band). The EB group consists of 16 participants (4 men and 12 women) at the age of 77.1±5.0 and the voluntary motion group (without elongation band) was 16 (6 men and 10 women) at the age of 77.3 ± 5.0 years. The outcome evaluation was muscle strength, the active shoulder joint range of motion (ROM), and grip strength. We measured the muscle strength of the upper trapezius muscle, the middle trapezius, the deltoid, and the latissimus dorsi muscle using a Muscle strength meter (Power gauge; Namba Co., Ltd. Tokyo, Japan). The maximum ROM of the shoulder joint of Flexion, extension, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation was measured using an electronic angle meter (Easy Angle; ITO Co., Ltd. Saitama, Japan). The grip strength was measured using a digital grip strength meter (TKK-5401; Takei Scientific Instruments Co., Ltd. Niigata, Japan). We used SPSS version 26 (IBM CORP., JAPAN). Dependent variables were analyzed by repetitive two-way ANOVA, with a 95% confidence interval and P-value set at 0.05.

Results: About the muscle strength, compared to pre-exercise (130.5±26.9) there was statistically significant improvement after one month (EB;173.4±39.0, P=0.01), and two months (EB;222.7±45.8, P=0.00) in muscle strength on the right upper trapezius only in the EB group when compared with the non-EB group. About the ROM EB groups showed statistical significance in active shoulder extension (Ext) (EB; 62.0±4.3, P=0.02) and external rotation (E.R.) (EB;83.1±9.2, P=0.01) after two months compared with pre-exercise (58.1±12.4, 70.1 ± 11.9). And statistically significant were also seen on the left shoulder Flexion (EB; 170.9±9.0, P=0.01) and E.R. (EB;82.5±7.2, P=0.00) in the EB group compared to the pre-exercise (153.7±13.8, 72.3±14.6). As a result of the 2-way ANOVA analysis, there is an interaction between EB exercise and exercise period. The main effect of the period was recognized in the upper trapezius muscle and the active range of motion of the shoulder joint.

Conclusion(s): It is suggested that EB exercise is effective compare to conventional exercise therapy by noticing the effect of improving shoulder joint function. It is thought to contribute to improving the executing rate, which is a task for the elderly. Also, it is thought that the active range of motion of the shoulder joint was also improved by the reciprocal nerve inhibition effect.

Implications: The above results support the need for the use of elongation band therapy intervention to improve.

Funding, acknowledgements: Tokyo Human Resources Fund for City Diplomacy International Student Special Selection Tokyo Metropolitan University Graduate School of Human Health Sciences

Keywords: Elongation band (EB), Elderly people, Shoulder function

Topic: Musculoskeletal

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Tokyo metropolitan university graduate school of Human health sciences

Committee: Tokyo metropolitan university Committee on Research and Ethics

Ethics number: 19108