FitLinxx

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FitLinxx AmpStrip Earns Industry Recognition for New Wearable

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Evidence-Based Fitness Programs

Creating fitness programs based on specific member data, plus scientific research and fitness databases, offers better results for your members and more revenue for the fitness center.

Outside the Xbox

Take a chance on new technology, but don't stop at plugging it in! Use interactive entertainment products as a springboard for developing bigger and better programming, and to add value to your memberships.

Recreation Facilities Join the Wi-Fi Revolution

Operational flexibility is just one reason recreation facilities are joining the Wi-Fi revolution.

Product Reviews: Cybex V43 Strength & LCX 425T Treadmill

Star Trac Elite CrossTrainer & Pro Stepper; Cybex VR3 Strength & LCX 425T TreadmillSTAR TRAC INVESTED two years of research and development, and had hundreds of user tests, 60 specific product requirements and 35 prototypes before releasing its Elite CrossTrainer, designed in conjunction with BMW Group DesignworksUSA.With traditional ellipticals, the upper-body motion depends on the lower-body motion. The arms of the machine move along with the pedals regardless of the amount of force (or lack thereof) users provide with their upper body. SelectFit makes the Elite the first machine that allows users to vary their upper-body workout throughout the exercise.High-tech users will appreciate the Elite's Pro Partner technology, which allows them to download and monitor their workout with a Palm-powered handheld to track and log workout speed, heart rate, calories burned and distance.wireless data transfer: Pro Partner technology communicates via infrared (IR) beam with Palm OS softwareTHE FIRST things users will notice about Star Trac's Pro Stepper are the ergonomically designed grip bars running the full length of the machine, and the Aero bar wrapping around the top of the display. This unique curve safely accommodates users of various shapes and sizes, and is the result of careful analysis of hand and body positions of stepper users. No longer will users have to contort their backs and shoulders in order to find a comfortable grip. That should save them from back pain and keep them exercising longer -- and actually get results.The oversized Soft Trac pedals with safety rims let even the most vigorous user feel safe and secure at any speed. At the same time, these same features make even deconditioned or post-rehab members comfortable and stable. Another safety and comfort feature is the rear step platform, for a safe, balanced entry to the low 4-inch step-up height.THE VR3 is the latest in the line of resistance-training equipment from Cybex, and it features several biomechanical advances. Most of the pieces use an Easy Seat base, which is an enclosed seat base adjustment design with a gas spring assist. This lets users adjust their seat height without leaving the machine; they can do it with just one hand.Users will also love the greater and more comfortable range of motion of the Dependent Converging (in the Chest and Overhead Press) and Diverging Movement Technology (in the Row). These arcing movements more naturally replicate human motion, stimulate the target muscles more and minimize stress at the joint.The Row combines a floor-level pivot and a clever, unequal-length four-bar linkage that gives users a near linear path of motion as in a cable row, but with variable resistance that closely matches the body's strength throughout the range of motion. The floor level pivot keeps the machine's profile low, and more uniform with the look of the rest of the VR3 line.IF YOUR facility is looking for a treadmill with a large running surface, but you don't have much space, the Cybex LCX 425T fits the bill. This small package boasts a commercial-sized (20 by 60 inches) running surface, while maintaining a compact footprint.The split-level console helps keep the user's accessories at hand, with a magazine rack, two water bottle holders and a CD/MP3 player holder. The handy upper display lets users select or scan between distance, total calories, calories per hour, METs, pace and heart rate, while the lower display provides time, incline and resistance level.

Top 20 Product Trends from the Past 20 Years

The past 20 years have seen much invention in cardio and strength equipment, but the standards have stood the test of time.1. HARD-CORE TO EVERYONE2. KEEPING TRACKHeart rate capabilities on cardio equipment began appearing as early as the mid-1980s, with manufacturers such as Versa-Climber's Heart Rate,Precor, Life Fitness, Cybex and Star Trac adding contact heart rate sensors and heart rate programs to cycles, treadmills and steppers. And, as early as 1993, machines had the ability to track individual workouts, with Cat Eye's Data Card. Later, Technogym and FitLinxx (1995) made it easier for exercisers to track their workouts.Although circuit training has reemerged as a fitness trend (as 30-minute workouts), this idea is by no means new. Beginning in the 1980s, equipment manufacturers made lines of strength equipment specifically for circuits within a fitness center. These include Universal's Aerobic Super Circuit, developed in conjunction with Dr. Cooper's Institute (1985), the Lifecircuit in 1985 by Bally Fitness Products, later known as Life Fitness, Hoggan Health's Sprint Circuit (1986), Maxicam's Modular Machine circuit (1987), the PACE 30-minute workout (1990), Universal's CrossLine package (1995), Keiser's X-Press workout (1997), BodyMaster's Circuit Master strength equipment, Paramount's Direct Power circuit (1997) and SciFit's Fit-Quik program (1998). There were even products to go along with these circuits, such as timers, alarms and music.In the early 1990s, when thong leotards were all the rage, equipment manufactures jumped on the "buns" bandwagon. Companies began manufacturing (or at least advertising more) strength equipment for the buns, such as the Apex Butt Master, Leg Tech Butt Blaster, Motivations Marketing Bun Burner and the Hoist Glute Master.NordicTrack was big in the 1980s in the home market, and in 1990 launched a model specifically for fitness centers (although it wasn't alone in targeting facilities -- Fitness Master introduced a ski machine in 1986, as did Precor in 1987). Its new version, 900-T (1993) made the cross-country ski machine easier to use with built-in handrails. Despite the improvements, its popularity waned by the late 1990s. Nautilus made a similar machine when inline skating was all the rage called the Skate Machine (1995).Stair climbers, beginning with the StairMaster in 1983, were an enormous success. Following StairMaster, every other cardio equipment manufacturer had its version of the stepper, including Tectrix, Star Trac, Precor, Life Fitness, Trotter, Sci Fit Nautilus, CatEye and Universal. In addition to the upright stepper, moving stairs also made their way into fitness centers, in the form of StairMaster's StepMill. Also, NuStep designed a recumbent stepper, which is still popular today for the older adult market.Although cycles and treadmills were around before Fitness Management was first published, the '80s and '90s solidified their place in the market. By 1989, cardiovascular equipment sales nearly equalled resistance equipment sales. And, by the mid-1990s, treadmills became the most popular piece of cardio equipment in fitness centers. Cycles continued their steady hold on the market, with recumbents becoming popular in the 1990s. The basic types of strength equipment are also here to stay, with plateloaded, free weights and selectorized pieces all holding onto their popularity.In 1995, Precor came out with its C544 Transport -- later to be commonly known as an elliptical trainer. Since then, most other major cardio equipment manufacturers have come up with versions, and most have also added an upper-body component: Life Fitness' cross trainer (1996), Reebok's Body Trek (1996), Hoggan's Sprint Cross Trainer (1997), Sports Art Fitness' elliptical trainer (1998), Star Trac's Elliptical Edge (1998) and Sci Fit's Elliptical Walker (1998). Elliptical trainers have stood the test of time because they are low-impact and have a low rate of perceived exertion. They've all but replaced stair steppers.Group exercise, as we know it today, began as "aerobics" in the 1980s. This high-impact, dance style workout wasn't for everyone, so changes were made throughout the decades (by 1991, high-impact aerobics had declined from its popularity peak by 6 percent). In 1989, Step aerobics was introduced, and held on for years (many fitness centers still offer it). Because of the popularity of Step aerobics, another type of class was introduced: slide training, in 1993. That didn't make it through the '90s. Group strength classes also went commercial in 1990, with limited licenses to Exterior Design's Body Sculpting being one of the early offerings. "Group exercise" became the word in the late 1990s to encompass all of the new classes that were being offered, including kickboxing, group strength (such as BodyPUMP, 1997), aquatics classes, hip-hop and much more.What revolutionized group exercise was something called Spinning, invented by Johnny G. in 1987. This became "group cycling" when other companies (such as Keiser's Power Pacer in 1996, Reebok Studio Cycles in 1996 and Star Trac's V-Bike and program in 1998) offered cycles and programs. Group classes on machines (other than cycles) emerged in the late 1990s. These included the Boathouse Crew Class by Concept2 (1997) Star Trac's Trekking on treadmills (1998) and Precor Fit on elliptical trainers (1999). More recently, we have efi Sports Medicine's GTS unit/GravitySystem /Gravity4Programming (in 2003), and the Corepole product and program (2004).Going along with the advent of "group exercise," mind/body classes, referred to in a 1990FM article as "nouveau aerobics," surged in popularity beginning in the mid-1990s. Yoga and Pilates were now offered in fitness centers, not just at small studios aimed at the "hippie" niche. Equipment manufacturers responded, offering reformers for individual sessions and group exercise, such as Balanced Body's Allegro Reformer made especially for fitness centers (2000) and PeakPilates'/Life Fitness' reformer. Both Pilates and yoga continue to gain popularity into the 2000s.Beginning in the mid- to late-1990s, and continuing through the 2000s, equipment companies became one-stop shops for buyers. Companies that once only made cardio equipment or only made strength equipment either bought a company that offered the other, or made their own line of equipment. For example, Life Fitness added a selectorized strength line in 1995; Trotter added a strength line in 1995; Cybex added selectorized and plateloaded lines in 1995, and bought Tectrix cardio and Trotter treadmills in 1998; StairMaster teamed with Pacific Fitness to offer a strength line (1996) and, in 1999, acquired Quinton treadmills; Nautilus developed a plateloaded line in 1996 and added a treadmill in 1997; and Reebok/CCS Fitness added a selectorized strength line in 1998. More recently, Nautilus bought StairMaster and Schwinn Fitness; FreeMotion acquired NordicTrack and Reebok accessories and group cycling; Precor bought Fitness Products International (2004), maker of Icarian Strength, plus it acquired ClubCom, maker of Cardio Theater; and Life Fitness expanded into the mind/body arena with its StretchMate and the Life Fitness Peak PilateSystem.As a result of equipment company consolidations, manufacturers wanted to create a uniform and distinct look for all of their equipment. Cardio and strength equipment in the late 1990s began to have signature looks from each company. Technogym, perhaps, kick-started this trend, with its futuristic/metallic look. Every major manufacturer followed, with uniform colors, sizes, shapes and materials for their equipment. Cardio consoles also became uniform across every type of equipment for each brand."Core training," as it's called, refers to strengthening the mid-body. While in the past people simply performed sit-ups, in the late 1990s, a variety of products and classes became available to train the core. Products included the ABTrainer by Precise (1995), Quantum's Power-Crunch (1997) and the ABench (1997) by Fitness Products International. Exercise balls, while available for years, also had a surge in popularity, as did balance trainers. A new invention was the BOSU ball, which looks like an exercise ball cut in half. OPTP, among other companies, offered a variety of products for the "core.""Functional training" became popular in the 2000s (though perhaps alluded to as early as 1988 in an ad from a company called Lapko, promising a new exercise system that would "exercise muscles the way they are in real life") as a spinoff of sports-specific training. This type of training focuses on preparing the body for a particular activity; only now, in addition to sports (golf, tennis, running, etc.), it is designed for activities of daily living. Balance training is a big part of this, as is strength training. In fact, whole lines of selectorized strength machines were born from this idea. Instead of a fixed path, they had cables for user-defined paths of motion. FreeMotion Fitness (originally Ground Zero) and Cybex were the first to bring these machines to the commercial market in 2000. Precursors to these machines were Cybex' VR2 line in 1996, Paramount's ART line in 1997 and StairMaster's Arcuate line in 1997. Also, exercise accessories such as balance trainers (many from Fitter), bands, exercise balls, weighted bars (like the Body Bar from The Step Company) and medicine balls became more popular because of the "functional" trend.In the late-1990s, flexibility became a buzz word in the industry. Products such as Precor's Stretch Trainer in 1998 were all the rage at industry trade shows. Also available were Universal Gym Equipment's ProFlex (1996), Keiser's Stretch Zone (1996) and the MedX Stretch (1998). Since then, True's Stretch Station came out in 2002, and the StretchMate came out in 2003 (offered by Life Fitness).Since people began running, walking, cycling and stepping indoors, boredom has been an issue. Equipment manufacturers have always tried to respond to that problem, and never better than now. In the '80s and early-'90s, small companies sold "reading racks" for cardio equipment, so members had a place to put their books, magazines and personal stereos. Eventually, equipment manufacturers themselves responded to that need, and had built-in reading racks and water bottle holders on all cardio equipment. Of course, that was just the beginning. In 1990, the Health Club Media Networks proclaimed itself the "only nationwide television and radio network designed for health clubs." Then, Cardio Theater (1993) brought the focus away from the equipment itself and onto the facility walls with its Cardio Theater television and radio systems. Broadcast Vision did the same in 1995, and Quinton's Club FM with TV and music was created in 1997. Entertainment options built into cardio equipment (like cable TV and DVD players) became popular in the 2000s (Expresso Fitness' Spark Cycle, 2005, and CatEye's GameBike Pro, 2005), but many were around in the mid 1990s, such as Precise Fitness' Tele-Bike (1993), Life Fitness' Exertainment system (1995), and Tectrix' VR Bike (1994) and VR Climber (1995), which all had virtual reality workouts. In addition to equipment manufacturers, separate companies emerged that offered TV monitors that could connect to cardio equipment to watch TV or a DVD, or use the Internet. These included e-Zone (1999), Transcape System's ICE stations (1997), which later became NetPulse, and CardioVision (2003).Instead of entertainment on cardio equipment, in the early 2000s, the entertainment became the cardio equipment. Active entertainment, such as Broadcast Vision's Dance Exercise Revolution (2005), Cybex' Trazer (2005), Konami's Dance Dance Revolution (2005) and Motivatrix' MX7 Workout Master (2005), have users respond to lights and a monitor to step or jump onto a pad. This idea came from the video game industry, but also keeps track of time and calories used during the "workout." This is a relatively new trend, but Cybex' Reactor was around in 1997.Climbing walls; aquatic classes, equipment and accessories; and rowing machines have been around since before Fitness Management first published. Brewer's Ledge's Tread Wall, a revolving climbing wall (whose club-targeted advertising dates back to 1990), made climbing more accessible for fitness center members, and easier for facilities than installing an entire wall. When the popularity of racquetball waned in the '90s, some facilities turned their old courts into climbing areas. As for aquatics, cardio and weight equipment for use in the water has been around for years, and group classes in the pool continues to have a steady market. Concept2's Flywheel Rower debuted in 1981, and by the mid- to late-1980s, rowing machines, some of which could be linked together for virtual racing, were a fitness center staple. In 1988, at least seven companies manufactured them, and Concept2 continues to offer newer models today.Since the elliptical trainer, cardio manufacturers have been looking for the next big thing. Some ideas are spinoffs on old ones: FreeMotion Fitness' (NordicTrack) Incline Trainer (2003) is a treadmill that has a steeper incline and can actually decline; Nautilus' Treadclimber is a split-deck treadmill for walking, introduced in 2005; and SportsArt's X-Trainer is a cycle with an upper-body component, introduced in 2004 -- although this wasn't the first time this was done; Reebok's Cycle Plus (1997) had an upper-body component, as did many of the cycles dating back to the mid-1980s. And although not a direct spin-off, Cybex' recently released Arc Trainer is similar to an elliptical trainer, with more of a swinging motion rather than an elliptical motion. This, again, isn't a new idea, either. Reebok's Skywalker, a machine that operated similarly to the Arc Trainer, came out in 1994, but failed.

Popular Facility for All

Don't let the hospital image fool you. The Wellness Center at Meadowmont offers a relaxing and functional environment.And these members include all types, such as older adults, athletes, children and those in cardiac rehab. "The diversity of membership makes our facility challenging, but rewarding, to manage. [It] demands that we provide a wide range of programs and resources, which results in a more comprehensive and compelling mix of programming for all of our members," says Yankee. "All of our members are better off because of the diversity of our membership."Because of its continued success in all areas, The Wellness Center needed to manage its member numbers. To do this, it created its Rolling Enrollment Program, which is, essentially, a waiting list. Yankee explains: "When we reached a usage level that seemed to be our maximum, we implemented a program to manage the number of members. Since our retention rate and positive word-of-mouth are so strong, we created this program to enroll members, but provide them with a start date that is weeks, or months, in the future, depending on in- and out-flows of members. We match this against the ideal number of members for the specific timeframe (higher in the summer, lower in January), and use this system to keep bringing in new members while keeping the facility from becoming overcrowded." So far, this program has been a big success. Prospective members still join, even with a wait as long as three months.

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AB Show 2025 in San Diego

AB Show is a solution-focused event for athletics, fitness, recreation and military professionals.

Nov. 5-8, 2025