20 Irrefutable Myths About Exercise Equipment: Busted
Exercise Equipment to Give Your Whole Body a Workout
If you've ever visited an elite gym, you've likely seen exercise equipment that enables you to give your whole body an exercise. The equipment ranges from powerful professional equipment to smaller machines that can be used at home.
No matter what type of equipment you use, always "bake-in" progression and regression to help your students or clients improve their fitness. Keep in mind that even the finest equipment can only yield results when it is used regularly.
All-in-One Exercise Systems
All-in-one exercise systems integrate the functions of multiple pieces of equipment into a single unit. They typically have the squat rack, bench and attachments for a variety of exercises that target muscles in the arms and shoulders, back, abdomen and legs. Some might have a cable and pulley system to offer resistance for weight training. Some all-in-one exercise systems like the Life Fitness G7 Home Gym have a selectorized resistance system, that allows you to alter the amount of weight you're using with a pin without getting up from your seat. Some of these machines are also foldable or stowable to make space.
Some all-in-one exercise systems use the power of a polymer rod, also known as Power Rods that generate tension to replace traditional iron weights. The Bowflex and Total Gym systems are examples of all-in-one exercise equipment that utilize this type of technology. These systems allow you to train your entire body without using weights. However, they still require you to perform exercise routines for strength using your own body weight.
Other all-in one exercise systems combine both weights and a cable and pulley system, such as BodyCraft X3 System. It comes with a dual weight stack of 200 pounds that allows you to perform a variety of strength-training workouts. It also comes with a broad range of attachments, including bars of both length and short length, single and double D-handles, ankle straps stirrup handles, a rope handle and dual arm cuffs.
Other all-in one exercise systems, like the Tonal and Tempo Studio, incorporate technology that assists in ensuring that you are in good shape during your workouts. Both products utilize 3D sensors to track the position of 25 joints, and compare them with reference points, such as mirrors, which assist you in determining when your form is off. The products provide real-time feedback to help you get back into proper form. This feature can help reduce your risk of injury as well as ensure that you are working the right muscles in the most effective way. This is especially crucial when training athletes for sports. For example, if you're doing upper-body exercises that corresponds to run blocking, you should make sure that you're targeting the muscle groups required by the sport.
exercise bikes helps build muscles, strengthens bones and improves balance, as well as burns calories. Athletes may train with free weights (dumbbells or barbells), machines which provide guided movements, or cables and bars for a variety of pull exercises. Resistance bands can be used to help with exercises using body weight and are a great way to incorporate them into training for younger athletes or those with no access to weights.
Coaches should not place young athletes in low rep ranges while using weights. This could cause injury and pain in the muscles. Middle and high school age athletes should generally lift weights that can be lifted at least six times per week with proper form.
Resistance Bands and Tubing
Resistance bands and tubing are a flexible option for weight training. They're utilized by professional athletes across all sports - football players, UFC fighters, bodybuilders, and more - to improve performance, increase strength and power and increase muscle size without the need for heavy free weights.
Elastic resistance training has been practiced for almost a century. It's now used by athletes of all ages and fitness levels to train and improve muscle strength, speed, and agility. Tubes and bands of resistance can be used to give you a an entire workout. They are easy to carry and inexpensive.
Flat resistance bands consist of strips of latex, or stretchy fabrics. They have handles on both ends. They can be folded up and put in a suitcase or backpack when not in use. They're lighter than tube-style resistance bands and can be used for a wider range of exercises.
Tube resistance bands are hollow, cylindrical tubes coated with rubber or plastic. They are designed to be affixed to a door, bar or pole or any other stationary object. They can be used for pushing or pulling exercises, and provide different levels of resistance based on their thickness and tension. They are also more resilient than standard flat resistance bands and a lot of them come with a snap-guard built-in that stops overstretching.
The main advantage of training with elastic resistance is the ability to alter the direction of pull during an exercise. For example, a study conducted at Brigham Young University showed that altering the direction of force on the squat exercise or step by directing the tubing or band to the front of your leg changed the focus of the quad and hamstring muscles.
Another benefit of using resistance bands or tubing is that they're a good option for athletes who prefer working on their own instead of working with a trainer or a group. You can also carry the tubing with you on trips as they are compact enough to fit into the bag of a backpack or suitcase.
Aerobic Machines
Cardio exercises increase endurance and strength in the cardiovascular system. They also burn calories and release feel-good chemicals known as endorphins. Jogging, walking and using an elliptical are a few of the most well-known cardiovascular exercises. Although these workouts can be done outdoors, indoor gym equipment is typically preferred for a variety of reasons. The major benefit of cardio equipment is that it creates an environment that is controlled and allows for a customizable workout. Many machines also offer built-in monitors to monitor heart rate time, distance and distance for an improved workout experience.
Treadmills are a low-impact cardio workout and can be used to simulate running, walking or climbing stairs. Users can also control their speed, incline, and resistance level. These features make treadmills an excellent option for people who have knee problems or want to get in shape.
Stair climbers are popular pieces of cardio equipment because they exercise the lower and upper body simultaneously while burning off a lot of calories. Stair climbers are designed to mimic an endless set of stairs. They are great for strengthening the legs, core, and arms while targeting the muscles in the back, shoulders and shoulders.
The Jacob's Ladder is a truly unique piece of fitness equipment that offers an intense, full-body workout. This unique piece of equipment is designed to look like a ladder with rungs that serve as foot platforms. The rungs are attached to a chain, which continues to move as the user climbs. This makes the ladder move at a pace determined by the user's speed of climbing, allowing them to choose their own level of intensity.
Stationary bikes and ellipticals can be another popular kind of cardio equipment due to their low-impact, full-body cardiovascular exercise. They can also be adjusted by users to their resistance level to target specific muscle groups. Certain ellipticals come with an "Rolling Hills" program that alters the resistance of the machine to simulate running or biking up hills. Other stationary bikes or ellipticals come with interval training programs that increase endurance.