Customer Reviews

Strength Band Training

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this book hoping it would serve as a one-stop resource for dozens of strength band exercise ideas. That is, afterall, what this book attempts to be. However, I quickly found that this book falls far short of that mark.

On the positive side:
1) lots of exercises
2) generally well-organized by body part

On the negative side:

1) Their picture of "proper" athletic posture is seriously flawed. The guy's head is jutted forward, his abdominals aren't contracted, and his shoulders are rounded, among other things.

2) Photos are limited to 2 shots per exercise - the 2nd shot usually shows a variation of the first. While I was glad they showed the variations, this book would have been far clearer and more useful if they'd included at least enough pictures to show each exercise's 'start' and 'finish' positions.

3) I have to agree with the reviewer from Portland Oregon - the models in the exercise photos look bored to tears most of the time. I'm not advocating cheesy grins, but since these types of exercises are usually more effective if one (the exerciser) focuses on the specific muscles you're using, it'd be nice if this book showed models who at least look like they're actually doing the exercises - not just assuming a certain position and sleeping with eyes open until told to do something else.

4) As another reviewer mentioned, very few (if any) of the exercise pics show how one might attach the strength band to doors, table legs, or other attachment points the typical "at home" exerciser is likely to have available. In most cases, it matters significantly how high you attach your band, the angle of resistance you create, etc.

In summary, I will be returning this book. If the negatives I listed above are important to you, a far better book selection for you to consider would be "Therapeutic Exercises Using Resistive Bands" by Caroline Corning Creager. Although that book's title specifies "therapeutic" exercises, what you'll find inside is actually much broader in scope. It includes 275 exercises (pictures depict 'start' & 'end' positions :) ) plus a whole lot more.

As someone who has used the Hygienic Corporation's Thera-Band brand of elastic resistance bands, off-and-on, for several years, I know that this type of training can have real benefits, particularly for people who prefer to exercise at home. Bands can, though, be difficult to use for some resistance training (particularly those involving the legs and lower back), may take more time to set up than it takes to prepare to use a machine or free weights, and can't match the greater resistances offered by heavier weights or machine settings. Lacking the physical restrictions of machines and the need to rely on gravity for resistance, any explanations of their use must be especially well-written and illustrated. The ones in this book are not. The written instructions are much briefer than they are, in, say, the excellent "Strength Training Anatomy," while the illustrations are considerably worse. They have at least three shortcomings: (1) generally they don't indicate what the start *and* the finish look like; (2) it's sometimes hard to tell exactly how the band(s) was set up and is being used in relation to the body; and, (3) the models appear uninterested in, and unfamiliar with, the exercises. (Something else worth noting, they are all photographed amongst exercise machines, which are often used to anchor the bands, while you are more likely to have to use a door, or even furniture, for the same purpose.) A really good exercise publisher will go to the trouble of having an artist illustrate a book's verbal descriptions, generally from photos taken for that purpose. (Drawings can be clearer than photos, and the reader is never distracted by the models.)
Another problem with this book is an almost complete lack of documentation. Claims about the benefits of using elastic resistance for fitness are made which should be referenced--even if only informally. They are not. A brief bibliography may indicate why--all of the original research cited there is in German, about five or six such sources total. That's no coincidence, as the Hygienic Corporation is a German company and it appears that it sponsored the research leading to the works listed. In fact, Phil Page works for it; the section of Hygienic Corporation's website illustrating how to use Thera-bands for fitness is largely his work, and he was the expert who answered peoples' questions regarding using the bands when I had a few. I don't remember if this was mentioned in the book or not, certainly it should be. The text and graphics on the website illustrating the use of bands for fitness are, IMO, often more helpful than the ones in this book. Of course, there are far fewer of them, and the book provides more general information. That said, the Hygienic Corporation's Thera-Band website, Frederic Delavier's "Strength Training Anatomy," (or other well-done resistance training or fitness book(s)), and a little patience and imagination should get you quite far with elastic bands. Try that prescription (and a knowledgeable friend or consultant, if possible), before you buy this book.

Strength Band Training is co-authored by sports and orthopedic physical therapist Phillip Page (Manager of Clinical education and research for Thera-Band Products) and licensed physical therapist Todd Ellenbecker (Clinic Director at the Physiotherapy Associates Scottsdale Sport Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, and who draws upon his 18 years of professional experience as a sports clinical specialist and an orthopedic clinical specialist) and offer health and enthusiasts more than one hundred physical exercises employing resistive bands and tubing. Resistance bands and tubing allows fitness training in minimal time, at very little cost, and can be practiced in virtually any setting, on the road or at home. Individual chapters cover "Strength Training with Elastic Resistance"; "Shoulders and Arms"; "Chest and Upper Back"; Abs and Lower Back"; Hips and Thighs"; Lower Legs and Ankles"; "Combination and Circuit Training"; Power, Agility, and Speed Exercises" "Stretching Exercises"; Functional Training Programs"; and "Training on the Road". Enhanced with a bibliography for further reading, Strength Band Training is highly recommended reading, especially for fitness enthusiasts, professional athletes, fitness trainers and professionals, physical therapists, and non-specialist general readers seeking an inexpensive, versatile, and mobile training regime for their own personal health and physical well-being.

Elastic Resistance therapy has long been a tool for a therapist in rehabilitation without a solid knowledge base to support its use. Page and Ellenbecker have done an outstanding job at providing not only a synthesis of research in this area but they have also provided great practical tips. It is a great balance between research synthesis and practical application. I highly recommend this resource if you utilize elastic resistance in your therapy.

This is an excellent book. Excellent scientific foundation and very functional in my physical therapy & sports medicine practice.

This book is well laid-out, informative to the nth degree. it has aided my health regime and alternative exercise program greatly. I would recommend it to both beginners and weight trainers of long standing.

I was given this book as a gift. It provides very clear instructions on exercises with useful pictures. It contains variations on each exercise. If you want to exercise with resistance bands, this is a good choice.

This book is a great adjunct to any clinical library. It has creative and thoughtful activities for theraband activity that may benefit your patient population. The pictures are easily understandable and easy to reproduce. The authors did a great job putting this book out to fill a void in resistance band training and rehabilitation.

This book includes a very complete collection of theraband exercises for all body parts. It does have photos but the photos are only in one position-wish there was a start position and and end position. They are all isolated exrecises so if you are wanting a routine you have to figure that out on your own. For those who are looking for a more structured/instructive start it would be nice to have a suggested full body work out for beginners/intermediate/advanced as a base to start from which is missing in this book. Good resource especially for those who are familiar with working with the band or want to work a specific muscle group.

There are good ideas in this book, and the pictures are good. The font was too small and difficult to read. But I guess that I still prefer exercising with weights at the gym. I think that stretching bands' resistance is too weak for most men, at least I am not that fan of resistance bands.