Chapter 16 Health and Fitness Equipment Considerations

1. Chapter 16Health and Fitness Equipment Considerations

3. SGMA • 45 million Americans over age 6 trained w/ free weights Has risen 101% • Total adult part. in free weight use - risen 119% since 1987 • Hand wtsmost popular up 16% • over 27 million part.

4. SGMA Women comprised 45% of all people who exercised with free weights. Spectacular rise of weight training among women (up 203% from 1987) One of the most dramatic fitness trends of the late 20th Century.

5. SGMA • Under age 25 - 36% • Ages 25- 44 - 39% • Ages 45 and up - 25%

6. SGMA • But did you know? • Biggest boom - free weight users 55 and up 1987 – just over 750,000 participants 2001 – 6 million participants = 700 %

7. What’s Popular? Source: IHRSA 2002 Member Census

8. SGMA • Completed 1-3 yrs of college of weight training population - 50% • North central region US – 11 million participants - 114% jump since 1987

9. FACILITY EQUIPMENT CONSIDERATIONS • Function • Versatility • Space • Safety • Durability/Maintenance • Cost • Staffing

10. Equipment Function • Consider your club’s mission • What type of equipment would serve your target market the most effectively? • Consider SES, Age, Families, Gender • > % Free weights = Lower SES, more men • Place each piece of equipment into a category • Cardiovascular/strength/abdominal/group ex. • Ask yourself 4 questions • What kind of image do I want to project? • Who will be using the equipment? • What is the basic purpose of the equipment? • Will there be an emphasis on strength or endurance equipment?

11. FUNCTION • What kind of image do you want to project? • Who will be using the equipment? • What is the basic purpose of the equipment? • Will there be an emphasis on strength or endurance equipment?

12. Free Weights vs. Machines • Free weights can be intimidating • Machines help people feel comfortable • If your mission is multipurpose, you want a higher % of machines • Older population & women will be more likely to join • Free weights are still important • Don’t skimp on quality or buy used free weights • Get rubberized DB & plates rather than iron • Upholstery should match selectorized machines

13. User Appeal • Convenience and Comfort • Soft padding • Easy adjustments • Small incremental weight adjustments • Smooth resistance patterns • Go to the vendor factory and try out machines • Brand Names • Instant credibility and appeal

14. VERSATILITY • Is it multi-functional? • Can the novice operate it and can the experienced benefit from it? • Can it accommodate a variety of populations? (aging, obese, youth…)

15. Versatility • Should be reasonably portable • Design changes over time • Maintenance issues • Consider placement and potential removal • Adjustments • Can various sized people fit on the machine? • Are the adjustments easy for the average person? • How many adjustments does one have to make? • Multipurpose • Can the piece serve more than 1 function? • If so, how likely is it that people will use the 1 function?

16. SPACE • Determine how many pieces you need and how many can fit in the available space. • Each station - ~46-50 sq. ft of space

17. Space Allocation • Each station needs ~ 46 sq./ft. of floor space • Take total sq./ft and divide by 46 • Don’t forget to add in circulation space • Use manufacturer to help design if possible • Optimize space utilization • Plan for as many exercise “patterns” as possible • Indoor track around selectorized area • Free weights adjacent to selectorized machines • Abdominal mats near strength training areas • Wow Effect • When possible, place your newest, best equipment near the entrance or on the outside of the fitness area • Will help the perceived image of the club

18. SPACE Example: 7,500 sq ft exercise space/50 SF per station feature 150 stations breakdown – 50 cardio pieces and 90 strength training pieces 10 core pieces 3:2:1 (:1/2) tread/ellip/bike/stair

19. SPACE • ACSM recommends: • Allow 20-40 sq ft for ea. pc. Equipment • Some experts recommend 46 SF/pc. • And 20-25 sq ft for ea. User • ADA guidelines

20. SPACE Short on space? “Jungle Gyms” Dumbbells Stability Balls/Medicine Balls Tubing and Bands Home Depot is your best buddy when you are poor

21. SPACE Tip: Can you get it in the front door? • Make sure you can get it in the door • Takes $$ to take door frame apart, not to mention time

22. Durability • Usage patterns will cycle • Functional pieces get lots of use today • Pulley systems or Freemotion Fitness Equipment • http://www.freemotionfitness.com • Consider vendor warranties • Very important part of the sales package • Serves as a rough indicator of it’s life expectancy • Structural frame should be lifetime, upholstery only 6 months • Check out how its made • Joint, chassis, padding, bearings, chains & belts, electronics

23. Safety • Should be #1 priority • Inadequate equipment can be grounds for negligence • Safe place statutes • Entitle users to safe environments • Place an additional burden of care on fitness centers • Shrouds, bolts, welds, anchored to floor • Any weight stack should have a protective shroud to minimize risk of injury • Cardiovascular Equipment • Keep electrical plugs grounded with fault interrupters • Lots of preventative maintenance required • Staff Supervision • No equipment is safe enough to take the place of staff • Ensure someone is supervising weight floor at all times

24. MAINTENANCE • In house or out? • Will it cost you more to maintain a cheaper piece of equipment? • Parts, warranty, availability of vendor

25. MAINTENANCE Tips: • Got space? Get 2 • Chains turn equipment “religiously” • Cardio after 3yrs • Strength after 6yrs • Narrow choices to 2 or 3 of the best manufacturers

26. WHAT KIND TO GET? • Cardiovascular Equipment • Commercial grade • Residential grade • Strength Training Equipment • Free weights • Selectorized • Plate loaded • Functional Accessories • What’s New and Hot (or just out there)

27. CARDIOVASCULAR • Are you going to have a cardio theater? (individual monitors) • Televisions? Radio hookup? • Television monitoring kid’s room? • Electronic Surveillance?

28. CARDIOVASCULAR

29. Cardiovascular Equipment • What are we talking about? • Treadmills • Ellipticals • Stationary Bikes • Etc…

30. Treadmill Lifefitness 9500 HR Precor C966

31. Exercise Bikes Precor C846-U Precor C846-R

32. StairClimbers SC 9500HR Stairmaster StepMill 7000 PT

33. Elliptical Machines Precor EFX 546 Life Fitness CT 8500

34. Specialty Machines Cybex ArcTrainer 5000

35. Specialty Machines Tunturi R780 Rower Versa Climber

36. Specialty Machines Nu Step Scifit Ergometer

37. Specialty Machines Brewer’s Ledge Climbing Walls

38. CARDIO EQUIPMENT • Basic Package 3-4 pieces • 1-2 Treadmills • 1 Exercise Bike • 1 StairClimber or • 1 Elliptical Machine $9,000-$18,000 • Moderate Package 5-9 pieces • 2-3 Treadmills • 1-2 Exercise Bikes • 1-2 StairClimbers • 1-2 Elliptical Machines $18,000-$35,000

39. CARDIO EQUIPMENT • Comprehensive Package 10-20 pieces • 4-6 Treadmills • 3-6 Elliptical Machines • 2-5 Exercise Bikes • 2-3 StairClimbers • 1-2 Specialty Machines $35,000+

40. STRENGTH EQUIPMENT • Free Weights • BB, DB, Olympic plates • Selectorized Machines • Pin adjustment, weight stack • Plate-loaded Machines • Uni-lateral, Iso-lateral

41. STRENGTH EQUIPMENT • Free Weights • Dumbbells, barbells, weight plates • Three planes • Benchs, racks, and trees • More economical • Proper training and supervision

42. STRENGTH EQUIPMENT

43. STRENGTH EQUIPMENT

44. STRENGTH EQUIPMENT

45. STRENGTH EQUIPMENT • Selectorized Machines • Single-stations or Multi “jungle gym” • One or two planes of motion • Cables, belts, pulleys, chains • Novice • Size matters • Less stabilization required • Spotter/Babysitter - Staffing

46. STRENGTH EQUIPMENT Nautilus Nitro Cybex VR2

47. STRENGTH EQUIPMENT Nautilus “Jungle Gym” Nautilus Gravitron

48. STRENGTH EQUIPMENT Free Motion

49. STRENGTH EQUIPMENT • Plate-loaded Machines • Unilateral • Iso-lateral (i.e. Hammer Strength) • Everyones putting out plate loaded • Better safety than free weights • Heavier weight workouts

50. STRENGTH EQUIPMENT