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Comment by DantesKite | Hacker News Reader

I just used the TheraBand Flex bar. It's a lot more efficient and I like the explanation for how it works. Basically through eccentric motion, it targets and strengthens the ligaments/tendons by "stretching" them so they're not so tense.

I experienced elbow pain after doing a lot of deadlifts and I assume my tendons couldn't bear the weight, since they take longer to strengthen than muscle tissue.

Fixed it after ~2 weeks of use. Highly recommend.

amazon.com/TheraBand-Tendonitis-Resistance-Tendinitis-Intermediate/dp/B00066D6K4/ref=asc_df_B00066D6K4/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198109692418&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6240534091611235770&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031499&hvtargid=pla-404191336687&th=1

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I have another anecdote about this product to share...

A couple of years ago, I got golfer's elbow from doing high volume chin-ups (supinated pull-ups). I'm at an age where this kind of thing is common (I've heard of it referred to as "middle age pull-up syndrome").

I tried to ignore it and work through it, but it got worse, and I eventually went to therapy where they recommended the Flex bar. It took more than a few weeks, but eventually it completely resolved the pain. For me at least, it did the job, and it's a lot cheaper than a single visit to the therapist (even if you end up buying multiple "levels" of it).

Nowadays I do my pull-ups on gymnast rings, so these creaky old elbow joints can move freely rather than being stressed by a fixed hand position.

Same story here. MAPS from frequent pull-ups. TheraBand has kept it at bay. Also switched to gymnastics rings. I also modified my programming to alternate between pullups and seal rows for 6 week training blocks, so I'm also doing half the volume of pullups as I was previously when the pain was very bad. But the elbow pain is practically gone now.

Had Golfer's Elbow and acupuncture did not work - physical therapy with these flexbars worked.

Conversely, my wife's debilitating ankle injury was going nowhere with physical therapy and after a single trip to a local acupuncturist she could walk pain free.

Second this. I believe the real benefit comes from being able to exercise the extensors instead of the flexors, which helps with remedying an imbalance in tendon strength that leads to tendonitis.

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