by Emilio López, Expert in Sport and Fitness Training, EU
HISTORY OF THE INJURY
After a fall due to an imbalance in a jump, I suffered a sprain to my right knee that resulted
in a mild strain of the lateral collateral ligament and a partial tear of the medial meniscus.
This was complicated by phlebitis that affected the right leg and foot. I underwent
arthroscopy to remove part of the meniscus, but the intervention was unsuccessful,
leading to a second intervention two years later due to acute pain in the knee during
jumping and maximum flexion, as well as generalized edema that caused phlebitis with any
impact activity, preventing even running short distances.
During the second arthroscopy, fragments of the torn meniscus were removed and patellar
chondropathy was diagnosed. After rehabilitation, I returned to my normal training, but
the discomfort persisted. In a new medical consultation, no negative evolution of the injury
or new pathology was evident. A repeat arthroscopy was discouraged and strengthening of
the vastus medialis was recommended to help center the patella. I continued to train
within my functional limitations, avoiding joint impacts and using light loads in pain-free
ranges of motion. I also worked on my hamstrings and performed proprioception exercises
to improve joint stability, achieving greater tolerance to load and an increase in joint range,
although I still couldn't run or jump without pain. I applied ice and anti-inflammatories in
case of inflammation. This situation continued for almost 10 years, during which I decided
not to undergo another surgery due to disappointing medical results.
EVOLUTION AND TREATMENT THROUGH BALANCING WITH T-BOW®
In 2008, I attended a presentation of the T-BOW® at my workplace. Initially, my interest
was more professional than personal, but I was impressed by the potential of the T-BOW®
and purchased one for my professional and personal use. During practice, I noticed a
progressive improvement in the stability and functional strength of my knee that I had not
achieved with cycling or other devices such as the Bosu. Balancing exercises in the frontal
and sagittal planes, especially in the frontal plane, showed a notable improvement.
I noticed that my center of pressure during exercise remained more constant, since not
feeling pain I did not need to adjust my joints. This allowed me to recover a previously
distorted lower limb extension motor pattern. I believe that the movement helped me
relax and control the opening chain of the lower limb, and that the activation of the
adductors benefited the vastus medialis by irradiation. The feeling of work in the peroneal
muscles was good, thus completing the closed chain work of the joint. I did not use
angulations beyond 60º, which reduced shear. In the sagittal plane, I performed eccentric
hamstring work.
To better understand the therapeutic benefits obtained with T-BOW® swinging, I
learned about the experiences of Sandra Bonacina (inventor of the T-BOW® and
professor of physiotherapy and fitness training at the University of Zurich) and
Gonzalo Cámara-Navarro (physiotherapist with extensive experience in athletes and
in the field of health). With this, I would highlight:
● The T-BOW® offers extraordinary reactivity, with a single imbalance axis and low
weight, enabling rapid and precise movement adjustments (*).
● This design allows for quick and fine variations in response to even small changes in
weight and movement, creating a cushioned swing that minimizes joint impact.
● Placing the feet on the narrow edges of the T-BOW® requires bilateral ankle control,
promoting leg verticality and excellent segmental independence.
● This setup greatly enhances the functional screwing of the leg's longitudinal axis
during lateral swings and provides deep, fine stabilization of the joints.
● The T-BOW® allows for the adjustment of difficulty levels, from basic balances to
high levels of functionality, suitable for daily activities and sports. This versatility
makes it accessible and beneficial for people of all fitness levels.
(*) Utensils like the Bosu are too soft to achieve good reactivity, forcing rebalancing that is too slow and imprecise, a characteristic aggravated by its multiple axes of imbalance (half
sphere), making it difficult to achieve healthy situations for the joints of many individuals.
Thanks to training with the T-BOW® and based on my personal observations, I now feel
much better and can do two activities that I couldn't do before: running (up to 10 km/h
without discomfort) and skipping rope for a few minutes. Although these achievements
may seem modest to some, for me they represent a significant advance, since I have not
been able to perform these activities without pain for more than 10 years.
