Stabilize While Treating Weak Joints
To age more gracefully, movement is essential. Weak joints get weaker if they are not used. I use thick rubber bands to stablize while treating weak joints.
Why and How use raw rubber bands?
Target specific joints by putting gentle pressure on the weak areas while moving. Tendons are stabilized by the band pressure and at the same time they are challenged by your movement. Unlike most back or knee supports, the pressure is targeted at the weak place in the joint so that treatment of the joint is possible. I am wearing the long tights that I wear under my Aikido uniform. The cloth absorbs perspiration while protecting my skin from chafing against my rubber band. These bands deteriorate more quickly if dirty so I wash them after every use.
I used to avoid long mountain walks because I was afraid that my joint would begin hurting. After discovering the bands, I wore them throughout the walk with no problem. Later, I carried them in case I needed them in an emergency. Because I did not avoid the mountain climbs, I became stronger.
Aikido practice involves people pulling at your clothes so the bands could easily be pulled off. I learned to attach the bands to my clothes, a belt or to wrap it so it would not fall off. Learning these tricks took much trial and error. The worst thing that happened was a band trailed out of my pants leg. I had to stop and retie the band. I had some embarrassing failures, yet I was able to keep up with practice no matter how much my weak joints protested, usually. Adding some targeted exercises helped. And a few months of recuperation was occasionally needed.
Yet, routine exercise with very short stops was the biggest help to build stronger joints. I was born in 1949 and now in 2020 I am working on my 4th-degree black belt by practicing Aikido 4-5 times a week. I attribute my strength to my use of rubber bands. I limped from age 32-62. I started Akido when I was 58 years old. If you do the math, you can see that I limped for the first few years of Aikido also.
The bands can be bought on Japanese Amazon. They are also used by physical therapists in South America. I have not found them sold in the USA. The band in the video is 3 meters long. They are available in many different lengths and widths. (1-5 meters long and 1-5 centimeters wide)
The Japanese YouTube demonstrators tell us to leave the band wrapped for 3-5 minutes, exercise, and then remove the band. However, I find that the band protects me from injury and my circulation is not stopped as long as I stay active. When I climb a mountain, I am not bothered by sitting down to eat lunch, for example. Perhaps I do not wrap as tightly as the Japanese do.
Wrapping examples
1. My wrapping style for the inguinal crease 2. A similar style 3. Wrapping in a public toilet
1.Knee wrapping as I do for Aikido 2.Covering the knees for short wrapping
1. Legs 2. Arm
Summary
Securely attach the band to clothes, a belt or your body.
Wash all sweat and dirt off the band after each use.
Repair a slightly torn band by tying the torn part in a knot. The rubber will seem to melt together.
Wear underclothes under the band.
Move when using the band.
Use when injured to return quickly to your normal life.
Wrap to a comfortable level of pressure