RAflex Elite Safety and Setup Manual v2.6 DRAFT (pending testing and sign-off) Page 1
RAflex Elite
Multi-Stage Kinetic Containment Resistance Bands
Comprehensive Safety and Setup Manual, v2.6 (complete draft, pending testing and sign-off)
Status: The text is complete. Figures marked as pending (testing or measurement) have not been checked yet. Do not print, publish or sell until the sign-off list in the internal change log is complete.
Supplier: RAflex (sole trader), ABN 98 134 513 179 · raflexbands.com.au · @raflexelitebands · Patent pending: Australian provisional application 2026905490
Important warnings
Latex allergy: Contains natural rubber latex. Latex allergy can cause serious reactions. Do not use if you have a known latex allergy. If you are unsure, consult a medical professional before use. Rubber chemicals in the latex can also cause skin reactions. Stop use and seek medical advice if you develop swelling, hives, itching or a rash. For difficulty breathing, call your local emergency number (000 in Australia).
Eye injury: A band can snap, slip or detach under tension. This can cause serious eye injury. In one published series of 11 patients, every patient had inflammation of the iris, and most had bleeding in the eye. Always keep clear of the line of pull. Sports eyewear is optional, and you can wear it for extra protection. Seek urgent eye care after any eye injury, even if your vision seems normal.
Magnets: The harness closure is a magnetic lock buckle with permanent magnets. It sits on the front of the harness, close to the chest. Do not use if you have a pacemaker, defibrillator, insulin pump, neurostimulator, cochlear implant or any other implanted electronic medical device, unless your doctor has given written clearance. Keep the buckle at least 15 cm from any implanted device. This follows consumer guidance for phones and smartwatches. The buckle’s magnets are weak, so treat 15 cm as a precaution. Keep the buckle away from phones, watches, bank and credit cards, and storage devices. The field strength at the buckle has not been measured (testing pending).
Small parts: Contains small parts, including ball stoppers, clamps and rings. These are a choking hazard. Keep away from young children. Not for use by anyone under 18.
Quick-start summary
If you take nothing else from this manual, take these ten things.
#
Rule
Detail
1
Harness first
Put the harness on over your shoulders, with the buckle at the front. Fit it so it does not shift when you twist. Do this before you attach any band.
2
Set wrist ring position
UPPER for approx. 175 to 190 cm. LOWER for approx. 145 to 175 cm. No separate carabiner.
3
Attach paracord to ring
Connect the paracord from each band directly to its snap hook ring.
4
Thread routing guides
Every band must pass through its nylon guide, every session.
5
Inspect before every session
Seven checks, about 90 seconds. No exceptions.
6
Body-to-body only
Never anchor to any external structure. Anchoring can cause sudden, serious failure.
7
Stop if anything seems wrong
Cracking, sudden change in tension, a ball stopper that has moved, or whitening: stop immediately.
8
Approved uses only
Up to 100 kg (testing pending). Tennis, golf, boxing and baseball practice, and general strength training, as set out in Section 6. Running and sprinting are not approved.
9
Clear space and eye protection
Keep at least 3 m clear (testing pending) and out of the line of pull. Sports eyewear is optional.
10
Retire at 6 months
Natural rubber degrades with time, whatever it looks like. Service life testing is pending.
1. Ring position selection
The kit has four snap hook rings, two bands, one harness, two wrist straps and two 60 cm nylon protective sleeves, one for each band, that go over the rubber tubing. One ring is on each wrist strap. Two are on the harness at the back, 7 cm apart, 3.5 cm either side of the centre line, between the shoulder blades. Each band runs from a back ring to a wrist ring. Paracord attaches directly to the rings. No carabiner or intermediate ring is required. The wrist ring can be set to suit your height.
•
Upper position: about 48 cm from the band to the centre of the wrist strap, for users approx. 175 to 190 cm.
•
Lower position: about 40 cm from the band to the centre of the wrist strap, for users approx. 145 to 175 cm.
The height ranges above are to be checked in a test fit (testing pending).
Ring size, back-ring spacing and both wrist-ring distances are to be measured on production units (measurement pending).
RAflex Elite Safety and Setup Manual v2.6 DRAFT (pending testing and sign-off) Page 2
2. Harness fit and weight requirements
The harness goes over your shoulders only, with the buckle at the front. The back rings sit between your shoulder blades. The harness must stay in the same place on your shoulders during use. The fit position is to be confirmed by a test fit (testing pending).
Body weight
Status
Up to 100 kg
Approved for the uses in Section 6 (testing pending).
Above 100 kg
Do not use.
Load limit. The design figure is 15.9 kg per end at full stretch, which is 51 cm. It is not a tested rating yet. A rating is only valid once a test report supports it (rating pending testing).
Fit check before every session
•
Tighten the shoulder straps until the harness cannot shift when you twist.
•
Raise both arms into a guard or athletic stance.
•
Confirm the band exits below the armpit with at least 1 cm clearance (clearance testing pending).
•
If the band contacts the armpit, loosen the front closure one notch and check again.
•
If the harness slides on your shoulders, tighten one notch.
•
If the band still contacts the armpit at maximum looseness, stop use and contact RAflex.
3. Setup guide
Follow these steps in order, every time.
1.
Put the harness on over your shoulders, with the buckle at the front. Position the back rings as set out in Section 2. Tighten the shoulder straps until the harness does not move when you twist.
2.
Set the wrist ring position: UPPER if you are approx. 175 to 190 cm, LOWER if you are approx. 145 to 175 cm. Attach the paracord from each band directly to its ring.
3.
Node 1 is the top of the paracord. Node 2 is 4 cm down, with the first knot in the ring. Node 3 is 4 cm further down, with the first knot still in the ring and the second knot alongside it, so both knots sit in the ring together. Make sure no paracord hangs loose.
4.
Put on the wrist cuff and secure the strap.
5.
Thread each band through the nylon guide on its side at the back of the harness. Each back ring is secured to the harness with two eyelet holes. The paracord from each band connects to its back ring on the rear of the harness. Do not train if any guide stitching is loose or torn.
6.
Start at Node 1 for warm-up. Pull the paracord through the snap hook ring and set it at your chosen node. Move up one node at a time, and only when the current node feels fully controlled. Never stretch the band beyond 51 cm, which is 3 times the 17 cm resting length. Node 1 gives the least tension, and each step up adds about 30% more (estimate, testing pending). The safe stretch limit, and which node it corresponds to, are pending testing.
4. Pre-session inspection (about 90 seconds)
Do this before every session. If any check fails, do not use the band.
1.
Latex band: Check the full length for cracks, cuts, punctures, nicks, dry patches, bubbles or whitening (stress marks). Any of these means retire the band. Check that each band’s nylon protective sleeve is in place over the tubing, with no tears.
2.
Termination clamps (stepless ear clamps): Must be fully closed, uniformly tight, not rotated, not slid out of position and not deformed. The latex under the clamp must look like a tube, not a flat sheet.
3.
Ball stoppers: Must sit against the clamp. A small gap is normal. Retire the band if the ball has moved visibly from its clamped position.
4.
Paracord safety loops: The outer braid must be intact, with no exposed inner core. Check by eye and by a gentle hand flex only. Do not load-test the band or the loops.
5.
Silicone tape wrap: The self-bonding silicone tape must be fully bonded at each termination, with no bubbles, gaps, loose ends, lifting, splits, peeling or exposed clamp metal. Sweat and UV ageing tests are pending.
6.
Harness, cuffs and snap hook rings: Check stitching and cuff padding. The magnetic lock buckle must close and hold firmly. All four snap hook rings must be closed and fixed with no play. The wrist ring must sit at the correct position for your height.
7.
Routing guides and back rings: Nylon guides firmly attached with no torn stitching. Both back rings secure in their eyelet holes. Each band seated in its guide. If any guide or ring is damaged, do not use the kit.
5. Stop immediately if you notice
DANGER. Do not finish the set. Step away from the line of pull and inspect the band.
RAflex Elite Safety and Setup Manual v2.6 DRAFT (pending testing and sign-off) Page 3
Sounds: cracking, popping, snapping or tearing from the band or clamp; a high-pitched whine or hiss during stretch; creaking from the paracord under strain.
Things you feel: a sudden change in resistance during a rep; a click or jolt at the clamp; vibration or flutter in the band; the cuff, strap or snap hook ring moving; the band riding up your neck or slipping down your back.
Things you see: a ball stopper that has shifted; a clamp that has rotated, slid or deformed; white stress marks in the latex; cracks, cuts or punctures; exposed paracord core; a split, lifting or loose silicone tape wrap; a snap hook ring that is deformed or detached; loose routing guide stitching.
Your body: For chest pain, faintness, dizziness or extreme breathlessness, stop, sit down and call your local emergency number (000 in Australia). For eye pain, blurred vision or a red eye after use, stop and seek urgent eye care. For sharp joint or back pain that does not settle with rest, stop and see a health professional.
If the band fails or causes injury: stop using it, keep the pieces, and report it to RAflex at josh@raflexbands.com.au.
6. Sport-specific use
Injury research for resistance bands in these sports is limited. Each section below gives the research basis, any rules that apply, and the safety measures. Some measures have no published source. They are precautions, and they have not been tested. Sport use stays within the conditions below until testing is complete.
Sport
Status
Conditions
Tennis
Practice use only
Shadow strokes and controlled practice. No maximal-effort serves.
Golf
Practice use only
Driving range or practice area. Not during a round, and not for practice swings.
Boxing
Practice use only
Shadow boxing only. No sparring, pads or partner work.
Baseball
Practice use only
Batting and swing practice only. Not for pitching or throwing.
Running and sprinting
Not approved
No evidence it is safe. Do not use.
General strength and fitness
Approved
Up to 100 kg. Two to three sessions a week, with rest days.
6.1 Tennis (practice use only)
Research basis. A 2025 meta-analysis of 29 tennis serve studies found risk factors including shoulder rotation strength, internal rotation range, weekly training volume, age and body mass. No study links elastic-band training to tennis injury, and none tests a band attached to the wrist during strokes. A 2018 review found no published tennis injury-prevention programmes.
Rules. No governing-body rule on bands on courts was found.
Safety measures.
•
Start with shadow strokes. Move on only when each stage feels controlled. This is a precaution.
•
Do not make maximal-effort serves or fast swings with the band connected. Serve risk factors are sourced, but no source tests band serves.
•
Warm up before each session. Australian fact sheets advise warm-up and gradual progression.
•
Keep weekly volume low and rest between sessions. Weekly volume is a serve risk factor. No safe number of sessions per week has been set.
•
Keep at least 3 m from the net, walls and other players (testing pending).
•
Do not train with shoulder or elbow pain, or after a recent shoulder injury. Get advice from a physiotherapist first. Sources give no pain threshold.
•
Sports eyewear is optional (Section 7).
Stop if you feel sharp pain, a click, or a sudden change in tension (Section 5).
6.2 Golf (practice use only)
Research basis. Lower back injuries were the most common in a review of professional golfers, though the review is of low quality. An Australian study of 1,634 club golfers found lower back, elbow and shoulder injuries, most often linked to poor swing technique. Golf’s lower back load comes mainly from twisting, though that rests on small simulation studies. Research also links more than six hours of golf a week, and skipped warm-ups, to injury.
Rules. Rule 4.3a(6) of the Rules of Golf allows stretching with equipment, including rubber tubing, other than in making a practice swing. It bans any training or swing aid that gives a potential advantage in making a stroke. A first breach brings a penalty, and a second brings disqualification. No ruling exists for RAflex, and a committee would decide its classification. This manual treats RAflex as a training aid, the stricter reading.
Safety measures.
•
Use on a driving range or practice area only. Do not use RAflex during a round or in any competition.
•
Do not use RAflex for practice swings.
•
Warm up first. Start with slow, controlled swings. Skipped warm-ups are linked to injury.
RAflex Elite Safety and Setup Manual v2.6 DRAFT (pending testing and sign-off) Page 4
•
Count band sessions in your weekly golf time. More than six hours of golf a week is linked to injury. The six-hour figure is for golf play, not band use.
•
Keep at least 3 m from other people, and check the swing area before each swing (testing pending).
•
Keep the twisting movement controlled. Twisting is the main load on the lower back. The evidence for this is partly supported.
Stop if you feel back pain, a pull in your back, or pain in your wrist or elbow. Australian fact sheets advise rest and full rehabilitation before return. No pain threshold is set.
6.3 Boxing (shadow boxing only)
Research basis. In a five-year British amateur squad study, the hand had the largest share of injuries, and training caused more injuries than competition. A 2022 comparison found more knuckle and thumb-base instability in boxers. No eye-injury data and no data on resisted punching exist for boxing.
Safety measures.
•
Shadow boxing only. No sparring, pads, heavy bags or partner work.
•
Protect your hands. Use hand wraps or gloves as your coach advises. This is a precaution, since the hand was the most injured area in the squad study.
•
Do not punch into or against any object or person. Control the return. Do not let the band snap back on release.
•
Keep your wrists straight. Do not lock or hyperextend the elbow.
•
Sports eyewear is optional. Keep at least 3 m of clear space around you (testing pending).
•
Not for use above 100 kg (Section 2).
Stop if you feel wrist, hand or elbow pain, or any numbness or tingling.
6.4 Baseball (swing practice only)
Research basis. Pitch Smart, from USA Baseball and MLB, sets age-specific pitch limits and rest days for ages 7 to 22, and bars pitching on three consecutive days in any age group. It covers thrown balls only, and its 2017 release does not mention resisted throwing. Two small trials found speed gains with band training, but neither measured injury. No injury data exist for band-resisted throwing or swinging.
Rules. Baseball Australia and Baseball NSW rules were not found. Check your league’s rules.
Safety measures.
•
Use the band for batting and swing practice only. Do not use it for pitching, throwing or resisted throwing. No source tests band-resisted throwing.
•
If you also pitch, follow the Pitch Smart rest days for your age group. Do not use the band on the same arm on a pitching day.
•
Keep clear of teammates, catchers and bystanders. Keep at least 3 m of clear space around you (testing pending).
•
Sports eyewear is optional.
Stop if you feel shoulder or elbow pain.
6.5 Running and sprinting: not approved
Research basis. No study tests a wrist-to-harness tether during running or sprinting. Restricting arm swing changes trunk rotation, though that evidence is only partly supported. One summary found that holding the arms back added about 0.08 seconds over 30 metres. Snagging, entanglement and recoil after a grip loss are plausible hazards, but no source has evidenced them.
Do not use RAflex while running, sprinting or cycling, or in any movement where you could fall. There is no evidence either way, so this stays not approved until testing and sign-off.
6.6 General strength and fitness (approved)
Research basis. Australia’s 24-Hour Movement Guidelines recommend muscle-strengthening on two or more days a week. They name working with resistance bands as an example, and advise starting small and progressing gradually. Japan’s Ministry of Health guide recommends resistance training two to three days a week, with progressive overload and rest days. Japan’s guide calls the evidence on injury not sufficient, so the evidence is limited rather than absent.
Safety measures.
•
Start on Node 1, and increase one node at a time. Take rest days between sessions.
•
Train two to three sessions a week, with rest days between them.
•
Stop and call your local emergency number (000 in Australia) for chest pain, faintness or extreme breathlessness. Lung Foundation Australia gives this advice.
•
Stop for sharp joint or back pain that does not settle with rest, and see a health professional. No recognised source sets this threshold.
RAflex Elite Safety and Setup Manual v2.6 DRAFT (pending testing and sign-off) Page 5
7. Clear space and eye protection (all uses)
•
Keep at least 3 m of clear space around you (testing pending).
•
Never stand in line with the band, the anchor or the direction of pull. Stand to one side.
•
Sports eyewear is optional. You can wear it for extra protection.
•
Headgear is not required, and it has not been tested to protect against a recoiling band. Do not rely on it.
•
A UK NHS leaflet describes a band that whipped into a man’s face and needed stitches. Keep your face clear of the band at all times.
•
If the band slips off or breaks, let go. Do not try to catch it.
•
Keep other people, animals and breakable objects out of the space.
8. Prohibited use
•
Anchoring to any external structure.
•
Stretching beyond 51 cm, which is 3 times the 17 cm resting length. The safe limit is pending testing.
•
Deliberately releasing a stretched band, or testing it for snap-back.
•
Training while fatigued, impaired or distracted.
•
Use in direct sunlight, or near heat or solvents.
•
Use beyond 6 months from first use (service life testing pending).
•
Use above 100 kg body weight (testing pending).
•
Use by anyone under 18.
•
Running or sprinting (see Section 6.5).
•
Golf practice swings, or any use during a round or competition (see Section 6.2).
•
Sparring, partner work, or use within reach of another person.
•
Modifying any clamp, tape wrap, ring or stitching.
9. Medical contraindications
Consult a qualified medical professional before using RAflex if you have any of the following. The list is not complete. When in doubt, see your doctor first.
•
Spine: disc herniation, spinal stenosis, vertebral fracture, scoliosis over 20°, ankylosing spondylitis, spinal surgery within 12 months.
•
Shoulder and upper limb: rotator cuff repair, recurrent shoulder dislocation, labral tear, AC joint separation, biceps tendon rupture.
•
Cardiovascular: uncontrolled hypertension (over 160/100), heart attack within 6 months, severe aortic stenosis, pulmonary hypertension, pacemaker or defibrillator.
•
Implanted devices: any implanted electronic medical device, including pacemakers, defibrillators, insulin pumps, neurostimulators and cochlear implants. Written clearance from your doctor is required.
•
Eyes: glaucoma, or a history of eye injury or eye surgery.
•
Connective tissue: Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, severe osteoporosis (T-score below -2.5), fracture within 6 months.
•
Neurological: active uncontrolled seizure disorder, stroke or TIA within 12 months, severe peripheral neuropathy.
•
Other: pregnancy (not recommended), latex allergy, acute illness or fever, severe sleep deprivation, recent surgery, or any condition your doctor has advised against resistance training.
DANGER: If any of the above apply to you, do not use RAflex without prior written clearance from a qualified medical practitioner.
10. Care and service life
Use level
Service life
Any use level
6 months from first use, until ageing tests support a different period (testing pending).
Hot, humid or daily UV exposure
Retire earlier if the latex or tape wrap degrades.
Any latex or tape wrap showing inspection warnings
Retire immediately.
DANGER: Retire the band at 6 months from first use, whatever it looks like. Natural latex degrades with time, whatever the exercise load. A band that looks fine may still fail suddenly.
11. Storage and cleaning
Storage
RAflex Elite Safety and Setup Manual v2.6 DRAFT (pending testing and sign-off) Page 6
•
Store cool, dry and dark, in a drawer or kit bag. Never in a hot car.
•
Keep out of direct sunlight. UV damages latex faster than anything else.
•
Keep away from heat sources, oils and solvents.
•
Never store under tension. Coil loosely.
Cleaning: Wipe latex with a damp cloth (water only). Hand-wash the harness and cuffs in cold water with mild detergent, and air-dry away from sunlight. Do not machine-wash or tumble-dry.
12. Glossary
Term
Meaning
Snap-back
The sudden release of energy stored in a stretched band. It can cause serious injury.
Snap hook ring
Four are supplied: one on each wrist strap, and two on the harness at the back. The wrist ring moves to suit your height. Ring size is pending measurement.
Upper and lower ring position
Upper: about 48 cm from the band to the wrist strap centre, for approx. 175 to 190 cm. Lower: about 40 cm, for approx. 145 to 175 cm. Measurement pending.
Magnetic lock buckle
The harness closure. Contains permanent magnets.
Back rings
Two rings on the harness at the back, between the shoulder blades, 7 cm apart (3.5 cm either side of the centre line). Each back ring takes one band.
Tension node
Three nodes. Node 1 is the top of the paracord, with the least tension. Node 2 is 4 cm down, with the first knot in the ring. Node 3 is 4 cm further down, with both knots in the ring together. Each step up adds about 30% more tension (estimate, testing pending).
Resting length
The latex band is 17 cm at rest, not counting the ends. Measurement pending.
Termination
The clamped end of the band, with a ball stopper, a stepless ear clamp, a paracord safety loop and a silicone tape wrap.
Silicone tape wrap
Self-bonding silicone tape around the termination. Sweat, UV and ageing tests pending.
Tube routing guide
A nylon ring stitched to the harness at the back that keeps the bands aligned.
Protective sleeve
A 60 cm nylon sleeve that goes over the rubber tubing. One for each band.
13. Liability and legal
Solicitor review pending. This section is held until a solicitor has reviewed it. Do not publish it as drafted.
•
Your rights. Our products come with guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2, Competition and Consumer Act 2010) that cannot be excluded. Nothing in this manual limits those rights.
•
Returns. We do not accept change-of-mind returns. Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law for faulty or unsafe goods are not affected. To report a fault, email josh@raflexbands.com.au with photos and your order number.
•
Warranty. We do not offer a warranty beyond the consumer guarantees above.
•
Governing law. New South Wales, Australia. Solicitor review pending.
•
Shipping. Areas served: worldwide, website retail. Payment is taken before stock ships. Destination rules are pending solicitor review.
•
Emergency numbers. Use your local emergency number. 000 applies in Australia.
•
Patent. Patent pending: Australian provisional application 2026905490 (filed 12 June 2026).
•
Language. English. Japanese text is needed before any sale to Japan.
•
Supplier. RAflex (sole trader), ABN 98 134 513 179. raflexbands.com.au · @raflexelitebands
14. Revision history
Version
Date
Summary
v2.4
2026
Earlier version.
v2.5
September 2026
One ring with upper and lower positions. Magnetic buckle. Medical warning added.
v2.6 (draft)
October 2026
Text complete, pending testing and sign-off. Separate sport sections with research basis. Four snap hook rings and two bands, back rings 7 cm apart, silicone tape termination, 17 cm resting length, 51 cm stretch stop (3 times resting length; safe limit pending), 15.9 kg end design figure (untested), 6-month service life, 100 kg limit, minimum age 18, 3 m clear space, optional eyewear, and a revised legal section. Not for publication until the sign-off list is complete.