Assignment for September 23 & 28 n Reading assignment: -Ch 13 of text n Preview these websites: Fitness Equipment Review Website n Review journal article from ACSM’s Health and Fitness Journal handed out several weeks ago on methods of evaluating exercise equipment.

Aerobic Exercise Equipment n Purpose - to increase aerobic capacity n Most equipment simulates walking, jogging, or running. -How about swimming? -Why not just do these instead of buying equipment? n 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 Rep March 2002, p 16

Hybrid: Treadclimber Reviewed in Consumer reports Jan 2004, p 18

Cost of Aerobic Exercise Equipment at Rec Complex n Skiers$1579-$4771 n Stationary Bicycles -Uprights $1436-$2471 -Recumbents $1798-$3634 n Treadmills$4695-$7995 n Rowers$680 n Stepping machines$1779-$3199 n Elliptical$2850-$3600

Which aerobic exercise mode is best? n 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 n Advantages -Potential for high energy expenditure -Good off-season training for skiing competition -Can talk or listen or watch -Non-impact n 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 n 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 n 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 n 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 n Disadvantages -Expensive -Not portable and compact -Noisy

Rowing machines n 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 n Disadvantages -Limited capability for incrementing and reproducing workload -Untrained rowers may fatigue quickly -Low carryover to ADL

Stepping machines n Advantages -Low impact -Can talk or listen or watch -Easy to learn how to use -Relatively inexpensive n 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 n Source: (Jung, A.P. The evaluation of home exercise equipment claims. ACSM’s Health and Fitness Journal. 4(5): 14-16, n Check physiological and biomechanical principles and ACSM standards. n Review research, if available -Critically review research – Are appropriate methods used? Who sponsored it? Where was research reported? n Ask professors or other experts (Barstow, Harms, Gyurcsik, Estabrooks, Ferguson) n Review product reviews in fitness magazines (Club Industry, Athletic Business, Fitness Management) n Try it yourself. n Interview professionals who have supervised its use. n Design and conduct your own research. n Note: guidelines for selection are on Federal Trade Commission Website (

Exercise Equip of Questionable Value n Devices which purport to provide great benefits with little effort n Devices to vibrate, melt, or massage away fat n Stretching, pulling, or pushing devices n Wearing or carrying weights n Others that you can think of?

Other websites on exercise equipment n Source for exercise equipment: -Fitnessquest home pageFitnessquest home page - n Sites including exercise equipment research : -ISU Dept of OTISU Dept of OT -Precor home page with scientific studiesPrecor home page with scientific studies - Primusweb indexPrimusweb index -ACE Fitness Home PageACE Fitness Home Page