Have Rubber Bands Been Used As A Form Of Torture?
Rubber bands have long been used as a form of emotional abuse. You can probably find pictures or images of rubber bands wrapped around fingers, wrists, elbows, wrists, ankles, and other painful areas of the body. Rubber bands have even been known to be used by patients with severe injuries to stretch their muscles until they are willing to sign waivers granting the hospital permission to use the band as a means of pain management. The fact is that rubber bands have been used in this way for years; but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of them for your own pain relief or personal growth.
Rubber bands can be found almost anywhere, including novelty shops, craft stores, gift shops, department stores, and online. There are even several self-help magazines that recommend using rubber bands as a means of pain relief. Some doctors suggest the stretching of rubber bands for relief of tight or sore muscles and tissues. And some individuals suggest the stretching of rubber bands as a way to help individuals heal faster after surgery or a serious accident. But are rubber bands abused and do they have harmful consequences?
First, let’s examine how rubber is typically used. Rubber is commonly used in the manufacturing of rubber gloves, bandages, and medical wrap. Rubber is also used in the manufacturing of textiles, rubber roof tiles, rubber mats, and industrial rubber flooring materials. The list of potential uses for rubber goes on.
Even if you do not think that you have a legitimate need for stretching your muscles in order to relieve pain, stretching is still a good form of exercise. If you stretch regularly, you will strengthen and tone your muscles, and you will be less likely to develop injuries. Stretching helps to loosen tight muscles that become tight with age, and it also helps to protect your joints. If you stretch regularly, you may find yourself not having as many aches and pains as you once did.
Now let’s look at whether or not rubber bands are used to inflict pain. Although it is unlikely, it is possible that someone else in the hospital has been electro-stung. If this is the case, the individual likely has some sort of reaction to the electricity, or to the band itself. Rubber bands can have serious side effects, but no serious side effects have ever been recorded regarding rubber band use. Rubber band use has not yet been banned in the United States.
There are many legitimate uses for rubber bands. They can be used to help people heal after accidents, to prevent scarring from accidents, and for healing cuts and bruises. They are fun, inexpensive, and a great way to exercise. So the next time you are asked the question “have rubber bands been used as a form of torture?” you will know the answer… rarely.