A Comparative Study on the Material Properties between the Thera-Band and the Chained-Rubber Band
Woraphon Jaroenporn MD*, Cholawish Chanlalit MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Nakhon Nayok, Thailand
Background : Chained-rubber bands have been used as a substitute for Thera-Bands as an exercise tool. Currently, there is
no scientific literature that confirms the material properties of the chained-rubber band.
Objective : This study evaluates whether the chained-rubber bands have comparable properties to the Thera-Bands.
Material and Method: The chained-rubber bands and Thera-Bands were stretched using a mechanical testing machine.
Multiple mechanical modalities were evaluated including the reproducibility, effect of velocity, initial length, and cyclic loading.
The force-percentage of strain was recorded and evaluated.
Results : Chained-rubber bands have similar characteristics as Thera-Bands in terms of pattern of the relation between the
force-displacement which displayed linear behavior after a 50% strain and reproducibility (ICC = 0.99). Initial length and
velocity had no effect on the Thera-Bands, however it did have an effect on the chained-rubber bands. In the 3,000 cycles of
usage, the mean force for stretching on the chained-rubber bands and Thera-Band was reduced by 6.3% and 10% respectively.
Conclusion : Chained-rubber bands have similarities to Thera-Bands which can be used as an exercise instrument. But the
rehabilitation protocol must be properly adjusted to the limitation of initial length and velocity of exercise. Good guidance
must be followed.
Keywords : Elastic exercise, Material properties, Rubber band, Rehabilitation
