Assignment for September 23 & 28

Reading assignment:- Ch 13 of text

Preview these websites:• Fitness Equipment Review Website• http://www.exerstore.com• http://www.acefitness.org/

Review journal article from ACSM’s Health and

Fitness Journal handed out several weeks ago on methods of evaluating exercise equipment.

Aerobic Exercise Equipment

Purpose - to increase aerobic capacity Most equipment simulates walking, jogging, or running.

- How about swimming?- Why not just do these instead of buying equipment?

Evaluate Efficacy of Each Type, or mode, of Equipment Below for institutional and personal use:- Cross-Country Ski Simulators Chart, p 161)- Stationary Cycles (Chart, p 165)- Treadmills (Chart, p 167)- Rowing Machines (Chart, p 170_- Jump Ropes (Chart, p 171)- Stair Steppers (Chart, p 174)- Elliptical exercisers- Treadclimber

Ski Simulators

Stationary cycle:

Stationary Cycles

Treadmills

Reviewed in Consumer Reports March 2002, p 13;Feb 2004, p 33-35

Rowing Machines

Stepping macines

Stepping machines

Hybrid:Elliptical

exercisers

Evaluated in Consumer RepMarch 2002, p 16

Hybrid:Treadclimber

Reviewed in Consumer reports Jan 2004, p 18

Cost of Aerobic Exercise Equipment at Rec Complex

Skiers $1579-$4771 Stationary Bicycles

- Uprights $1436-$2471

- Recumbents $1798-$3634

Treadmills $4695-$7995 Rowers $680 Stepping machines $1779-$3199 Elliptical $2850-$3600

Which aerobic exercise mode is best?

Compare each mode relative to the following criteria- Degree of overload on cardiorespiratory system (Consumer

reports Mar 2002, p 13)- Relevance to fundamental movements and ADL’s- Proportion of total body musculature involved- Degree of compressive stress on femoral head and lumbar

vertebral bodies (sites of most osteoporotic fractures)- Compressive stress on patella and knee joint- Range of motion and torque at hip, knee, and lumbar spine- Motivational features (comfort, user friendly, feedback, RPE)- Likelihood of continued usage- Cost- Other?

Cross-country ski simulators

Advantages- Potential for high energy expenditure- Good off-season training for skiing competition- Can talk or listen or watch- Non-impact

Disadvantages- Not easy to learn to use- Need to develop skill- None have capability to convert exercise effort into

repeatable intensity- Most models have poor feedback on work intensity

Stationary cycles Advantages

- Inexpensive, compact, portable- Can listen, talk, and watch- No heel-strike forces (.6 g)- Good feedback on work rate and energy expenditure- Easy to use

Disadvantages- Sore butt can be a problem- Boring- Only works the legs – those with poorly conditioned leg muscles

will fatigue quickly- Low carryover to ADL’s- Higher RPE than treadmill or ellipticals

Treadmills

Advantages- Good carryover to locomotion- Can control speed and slope and can be programmable and

reproducible- Weight bearing – high GRF’s- Easy to learn how to use- Greatest incidence of use in homes- Lower R|PE than most other aerobic ex machines

Disadvantages- Expensive- Not portable and compact- Noisy

Rowing machines Advantages

- Uses large muscle mass than cycling- Greater energy energy expenditure than cycling- Can talk or listen or watch- Non-impact- Cheap- Easy to learn how to use

Disadvantages- Limited capability for incrementing and reproducing

workload- Untrained rowers may fatigue quickly- Low carryover to ADL

Stepping machines

Advantages- Low impact - Can talk or listen or watch- Easy to learn how to use- Relatively inexpensive

Disadvantages- High knee torque and patellar compressive forces

(hard on knees)- Minimal trunk and upper body involvement- Can be boring

Methods of Evaluation of Ex Equip Source: (Jung, A.P. The evaluation of home exercise equipment

claims. ACSM’s Health and Fitness Journal. 4(5): 14-16,30-31. Check physiological and biomechanical principles and ACSM standards. Review research, if available

- Critically review research – Are appropriate methods used? Who sponsored it? Where was research reported?

Ask professors or other experts (Barstow, Harms, Gyurcsik, Estabrooks, Ferguson)

Review product reviews in fitness magazines (Club Industry, Athletic Business, Fitness Management)

Try it yourself. Interview professionals who have supervised its use. Design and conduct your own research. Note: guidelines for selection are on Federal Trade Commission

Website (http://www.ftc.gov)

Exercise Equip of Questionable Value

Devices which purport to provide great benefits with little effort

Devices to vibrate, melt, or massage away fat Stretching, pulling, or pushing devices Wearing or carrying weights Others that you can think of?

Other websites on exercise equipment

Source for exercise equipment:- Fitnessquest home page- http://www.exerlopers.com/

Sites including exercise equipment research :- ISU Dept of OT- Precor home page with scientific studies- Primusweb index- ACE Fitness Home Page