Thread by @Retlouping

By special request today’s episode of “Old Man Shouting At Clouds” is on ‘Retlouping” a tweetorial. So buckle up and enjoy the ride. Thanks @keeffe_alan for asking.
Some years ago I developed a technique called “Retlouping” yes it’s my twitter handle and it is my last name.....

Spelt backwards retluop but with the O & U flipped and ING added hence Retlouping was born. The technique developed whilst over time in the clinic and has developed into it’s current form. So what is Retlouping and what does it do?
See below. The technique has two important.....

Clinical applications
1. To regain knee extension especially in post operative knee patients or post trauma.
2. Increase forward bending and hamstring flexibility, withotu stretching.
I wrote and old blog here retlouping.blogspot.com/2008/02/retlou…
On the clinical application of Retlouping

The blog includes three case studies of different post op knee patients. The technique is good for ACL reconstructions and Knee replacements. Patinets who respond regain knee extension in the first session and are able to maintain it with home use. I normally advise the procedure

Is performed on a bed using the head board for the foot support. It is important to keep the eyes open when perfrmeing the procedure. Here is a link to a YouTube video demonstrating the procedure. the video also demonstrates Retlouping effect......

On hamstring flexibility. I have proposed that stretching your hamstrings may even be the cause of “tightness” in the hamstrings. If you observe most people who stretch their hamstrings they generally do it because they are always tight, this seems somewhat counterintuitive.

There has been several small studies on Retlouping @Seth0Neill has several students who have done their thesis on the procedure. One highlighted below.

A larger study was done on Irish Gaelic football players with positive results on flexibility compared to traditional stretching

Here is an extract from the Durak study on my thoughts on the possible underlying mechanisms of Retlouping and why in a vast majority of people who try it there is an sudden improvement in flexibility and ROM.

I have used and taught Retlouping to many clinicians in the clinics i have worked in and on my courses. The results and feedback from clinicians and patients have always been positive. I know that anecdote is not a great evidence base, but it’s time for others to try it...

And hopefully someone will study it’s effect in a trial.
This is not the only technique i have developed using the same hypothesis for hamstring flexibility. I have used the “wedge method” of increasing hamstring and forward bending motion. Just this evening I used this....

On my unsuspecting wife. See video below. prior to me leaving my last job was about to initiate a large trial of the procedure on local high school students.

You can here the amazement even in my wife’s voice. This technique is counter intuative, but my hypothesis is that when we bend forward our hamstrings contract to stop us falling forward. This response is greater in those with restricted forward flexion. You can see in the video

That weight-bearing alters on the 45° wedge, your weight is thrown backwards and hence when you bend forwards you don’t feel like you will fall over, thus the hamstrings relax. This effect lasts when you step off.

So to summarize Retlouping is a new technique for regaining post operative knee extension or post traumatic knee extension withotu forcing the knee. It is also good at increasing hamstring flexibility. The wedge technique is also an alternative way to regain flexibility.

I normally prescribe Retlouping three sets then retest, you can perform another three sets if results are good. Most people benefit from doing the procedure 2-3 x a day for a week, then the effects seem to last. You can top up as needed, based on flexibility.

Retlouping has been and is currenlty sued at The Minnesota Viking’s and Timberwolves. I have it on good authority that the knee surgeon for the Viking’s uses it on his post op patients and Carson Palmer rehabbed his ACL recon using Retlouping.

As usual thanks for reading. Have a go at Retlouping, try it with your patinets and friends, I will be interested in your feedback. Try the wedge technique to. Have fun.

@threadreaderapp unroll please