Orthopedics Assistive Devices & Orthotics How Physical Therapists Use TheraBands for Patients By Laura Inverarity, DO Laura Inverarity, PT, DO, is a current board-certified anesthesiologist and former physical therapist. Learn about our editorial process Laura Inverarity, DO Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT on July 20, 2020 linkedin Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT, is a physical therapist with experience in hospital-based acute care and outpatient therapy with both children and adults. Learn about our Medical Review Board Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT on July 20, 2020 Print TheraBand Loops are thick elastic bands that provide a way to strengthen muscles at home. By using the resistance that Therabands provide, muscles can be strengthened easily. TheraBand resistance bands are made of latex rubber, but there are non-latex varieties available for those people who are allergic to latex. If you have an injury or illness that results in problems with functional mobility, your physical therapist will likely prescribe specific exercises for you to do. Some of these exercises may be prescribed as part of a home exercise program, and TheraBand (or other brands of resistance bands) may be used to perform these exercises. Tetra Images / Brand X Pictures / Getty Images Benefits There are some benefits to using resistance bands to do your home exercise program. These may include: They are inexpensive. TheraBand resistance bands typically cost about $50 for approximately 50 yards. This makes them very affordable. In fact, many physical therapists simply give them out to their patients so they can do their exercise program.TheraBand is easily portable. A TheraBand can be folded up and carried along with you in your pocket. That way, there is no excuse for missing your home exercise program.They offer a variable amount of resistance. TheraBands come in various resistance levels to make your exercises more challenging as you progress. Some people use TheraBand loops for strengthening exercises, and other times the bands can be used for flexibility as part of a towel or band stretching exercise program. Whatever you use them for, make sure you check in with your PT to ensure that you are using them properly and safely. Limitations There are some limitations to using resistance bands for your exercises. These may include: It is difficult to accurately measure the amount of resistance you are using while exercising.The resistance bands may easily break or become wornInjury may result if you do no use your TheraBand properly TheraBand resistance loops and bands seem like a simple exercise tool, but they must be used properly and with caution to avoid serious injury. How Much Resistance Is Your Theraband Providing? The TheraBand Loop system provides different levels of resistance in order to allow you to progress as you gain strength. The resistance level increases as the color of the band become darker. Least to most resistance is as follows: yellow, red, green, blue, and black. Be sure you are using the proper resistance for your condition. Using a band that is too light will make your exercise less challenging and perhaps pointless. Using one that is too heavy may make your exercise too difficult or lead to strain and stress or injury. Be sure to check in with your physical therapist if you have any questions about using your resistance band. TheraBands provide you with a simple, easy to use exercise tool so you can get your rehab home exercise program done quickly and safely. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with joint pain can cause major disruptions to your day. Sign up and learn how to better take care of your body. Click below and just hit send! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Hughes, CJ, et al. Resistance Properties of Thera-Band® Tubing During Shoulder Abduction Exercise. JOSPT. 29(7). July 1999.