Indian Clubs

Indian Clubs have made it to F&L

Indian clubs are a type of exercise equipment used for developing mobility, strength and cardiovascular endurance. According to Wikipedia, Indian clubs or meels “comprise of bowling-pin shaped wooden clubs, which are swung in certain patterns as part of an exercise program.” Clubs can vary in shapes and weights depending on the type of exercise they are intended for. Wrestlers in ancient Persia and Egypt originally used these clubs as training tools. British colonists erroneously referred to them as “Indian clubs” despite their Middle Eastern origin.

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Indian clubs have been used for over a century and have made their way to F&L’s WORC site. The clubs have recently become a popular exercise tool due to a recent trend of using unorthodox exercise equipment like kettlebells, swinging maces, and sandbags.  At WORC, we use them to improve shoulder and scapular mobility. Patients go through a series of movement patterns that emphasize scapular protraction, retraction, elevation, depression, and rotation. This prepares them for other movements that require full range of motion of the upper extremities. I’ve found them to be very effective as a warm up exercise that involves all of the scapular muscles including the rotator cuff. Learning the unique movement patterns of the clubs takes patience but once mastered, they can provide a great tool for rehabilitation and exercise.

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During a recent vacation to Tucson, Arizona, my father-in-law taught me how to use a lathe (machine tool below) and I attempted my first run at creating my own clubs. It was a fun experience and am so happy to see our patients using my creation as well as my father-in-laws clubs that he made for the clinic.

References:
Indian club. (2014, December 2). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:21, March 1, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_club&oldid=636282157