The Exercise Equipment Awards: The Best, Worst And Weirdest Things We've Seen
Exercise Equipment to Give Your Whole Body a Workout
If you've been to a gym that is professional, you've probably seen equipment that lets you exercise your entire body. The equipment ranges from heavy-duty professional equipment to small equipment that can be used at home.
Regardless of the type of equipment, you must "bake in" progress and regression so your clients or students improve their fitness. Remember that even the best equipment will only produce results if it is used regularly.
All-in-One Exercise Systems
All-in-one systems incorporate several pieces of equipment into one unit. They typically include an squat rack and bench to help with strength training, as well as various attachments to perform a range of exercises that target muscles in the shoulders, arms, back, abdomen and legs. Some may include an electric pulley and cable system to offer resistance for weight training. Certain all-in-one fitness systems like the Life Fitness G7 Home Gym, feature a selectorized resistance system, that allows you to alter the amount of weight you are using with a pin without having to get up from your chair. Some of these equipments are portable or stowable to help save space.
Some all-in one exercise systems utilize an elastomer-based rod known as Power Rods, which create tension to replace traditional iron weights. The Bowflex and Total Gym systems are examples of all-in-one exercise systems that utilize this type of technology. These systems let you exercise your entire body without using weights. However, they still require you to do some exercises for strength using your bodyweight.
Other all-in-one fitness systems combine both weights and a cable and pulley system, such as BodyCraft X3 System. The machine comes with a dual 200-pound weight stack that allows you to perform dozens of different strength-training exercises. It also has a wide variety of attachments, including bars of both length and short length as well as double and single D-handles, ankle straps, stirrup handles, rope handles and dual arm cuffs.
Other all-in-one exercise systems, like the Tonal and Tempo Studio, include technology that aids in ensuring proper form during your exercise routine. Both products make use of 3D sensors to track the location of 25 joints and compare them to reference points, such as mirrors, to assist you in determining the areas where your form is off. They provide real-time feedback to guide you back into good form. This feature can help reduce the risk of injury, and ensure that you are focusing on the correct muscles in the most effective way you can. This is especially crucial when you train athletes to participate in sports. For instance, if you're doing upper-body exercises that corresponds to run blocking, you should make sure that you're training the muscles needed by the sport.
Weights
Weight training can increase bone strength, muscle mass and balance. It also helps burn calories. Athletes can train using free weights (dumbbells, barbells) or machines that offer guided movement patterns or cables with handles and bars for various pull exercises. Resistance bands offer resistance to bodyweight exercises and can be a great option to incorporate them into workouts for children athletes or those without access to weights.
When using weights, coaches must be cautious about putting young athletes into low rep ranges which can cause muscle soreness and injuries. Middle and high school age athletes should generally use weights that they can lift at least six times per week with proper form.
Tubing or Resistance Bands
Tubing and resistance bands are a versatile alternative for weight training. They are used by professional athletes in all sports - footballers, UFC fighters, bodybuilders and many more - to improve performance and strength and increase muscle size without the need for large free weights.
Elastic resistance training has been practiced for more than a century. Athletes of all ages fitness levels, and genders use elastic resistance training to improve the strength, speed, and agility. Tubes and bands of resistance can be used to give you a an entire workout. They are lightweight and cost-effective.
Flat resistance bands are made up of strips of latex or stretchy fabrics. They have handles on both ends. When they are not in use they can be folded and stored in a backpack or suitcase. They are lighter than tubes resistance band and can be used for a variety of exercises.
Tube resistance bands are hollow, cylindrical tubes coated with rubber or plastic. They're typically designed to attach to a door, bar, pole, or other stationary object. They can be used for pulling or pushing exercises, and provide different levels of resistance based on their thickness and tension. They are also more durable than standard flat resistance bands and many have a built-in snap-guard that stops overstretching.
One of the main benefits of using elastic resistance training is that it enables you to alter the amount of emphasis on certain muscles during an exercise by altering the direction of the pull. For instance, a study conducted at Brigham Young University showed that changing the direction of force in an exercise like a squat or step by directing the tubing or band towards the front of your leg could alter the focus on muscles of the quad and hamstring.
Tubing or a band of resistance can also be an excellent option for athletes who prefer to work on their own rather than with a trainer or group. You can also carry them with you when traveling as they are compact enough to fit in luggage or backpacks.
Aerobic Machines
Cardio exercises increase endurance and cardiovascular strength burn calories and trigger the release of the feel-good chemicals referred to as endorphins. The most popular kinds of cardiovascular exercises include walking and jogging on an elliptical machine as well as riding a stationary bicycle and climbing on a stair climber. The indoor gym equipment is favored over outdoor exercise for a variety of reasons. you can find out more has the principal benefit of offering the control of an environment that allows for a customizable exercise. A lot of machines come with built-in monitors that can track heart rate, distance and time for an enhanced experience.
Treadmills offer a low-impact cardiovascular workout and can be used to simulate walking, running or climbing stairs. They also let users control their pace, incline and resistance level. These features make treadmills an excellent option for people with knee problems or those looking to get in shape without putting too much stress on their joints.
Stair climbers have become a popular cardio equipment as they exercise both upper and lower bodies simultaneously and burn a lot of calories. Designed to mimic a never-ending flight of stairs, stair climbers build strength in the legs and core while focusing on muscles in the arms, back and shoulders.
The Jacob's Ladder provides a challenging, total-body workout. This unique equipment is shaped like a ladder and features separate rungs that serve as foot platforms. The rungs are linked to a chain, which moves continuously as the user climbs. The ladder moves at a speed determined by the climber's speed.
Stationary bikes and ellipticals are another popular type of cardio machine since they offer a low-impact, full-body exercise. These machines allow users to alter the level of resistance in order to focus on specific muscles. Certain ellipticals come with an "Rolling Hills" program that alters the resistance of the machine to simulate riding or running up hills. Other ellipticals and stationary bikes feature interval training programs to improve endurance.