The X Band Resistance Band Exercise

Stop Doing this Resistance Band Exercise: Why do Resistance Bands Break or Snap? (Part 2)

DJ Guzda

Stop Doing this Resistance Band Exercise

The X Band Walk. Resistance Bands Canada

The resistance band exercise popularly know as the X Band Walk might be one of the most destructive exercises for your resistance bands - even if you are using the best resistance available.
The X Band Walk is a poor choice for your resistance exercises for at least 2 reason:
  1. The position of the resistance band during the exercise subjects it to high levels of friction. The increases the risk of injury because the resistance band can snap with out notice at any time.
  2. The resistance band is easily over stretched

The X Band Walk could reasonably replaced with a similar exercise using a mini band above the knees, just below the knees or around your ankles.  Click HERE and HERE for our Youtube videos on how to perform to perform 2 different banded walks that might create the same stimulus as the X Band Walk  without the same damage to your resistance bands. If you need Mini Bands, you can click HERE.

 

Mini Placement for Lateral Walk Resistance band exercise

FRICTION
The X Band Walk resistance band exercise will subject your resistance band to friction at  two points: between the resistance band and the soles of your shoes and between the training surface and the resistance band.
To execute this exercise, the user positions their feet hip width apart and pulls upward on the resistance band so that tension remains remains relatively constant during the exercise. 
Throughout the exercise , the resistance band 'saws' against the instep of the athlete's shoe breaking down the rubber as their leg comes out to the side during each rep.  This "sawing" effect will also happen on the outside of the shoe when the band is puller upward.
 
Aside from friction due coming in contact with the soles of your shoes, the resistance band comes into contact with the floor at the end each repetition potentially adding more wear on the band.
Under these circumstances, even a new resistance band can suddenly snap without warning. 
The X Band Walk creates a situation for increased friction and over-stretching and this increases the risk to the user as well increases the cost training.

Resistance Band breaking during X Walk Resistance Band Exercise

OVER STRETCHING

It is a very safe and responsible practice to avoid stretching the resistance band more than 2x its resisting length to prevent it from snapping prematurely and increasing the wear-and-tear. Over stretching the resistance band in addition to increasing the amount of friction on the significantly increases the risk of the resistance band breaking.

Over stretching happens in two ways during The X Band Walk : when the band is pulled upward to created to tension and when the user's leg is pushed out to the side.

What might be particularly risky in this regard is that the resistance band is stretched between the user's feet and anchored at both sides while either end is pulled upward. What remains between the user's feet is a relatively short piece of working resistance band that is under high tension and also subject to a lot of friction.

In the photo below, the user is working with a 41" band which creates a 20.5" closed loop. However, the working length of the band is only the distance between the user's shoes. 

An important point to note here is the band position on the outside of the user's shoe. With the band being pulled upward it becomes tight against the user's shoe.  When their leg is pushed out to the side, this will also increase  the effect of over-stretching the can.

 What Are the Options ?

If you have a chance to look that videos in the links above, you may find some alternatives to the X Band Walk there. If you do not have Mini Bands available, the user may also remove their shoes (if safety and all reasonable factors are considered) to at least reduce the friction on the resistance. 

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