Archive for the ‘Fitness_Equipment’ Category
December 10th, 2010 | 
Author: A few days ago I testified a bit on how to properly choose a home / residential grade treadmill. This time, since it has been a quiet day at the DOJO, I am going to ramble a bit on the ins and outs of remanufactured commercial equipment. This guide can be used not only for cardio equipment like treadmills and ellipticals, but also for strength equipment…although I get more than enough of a strength workout every day lifting and moving heavy treadmills around the DOJO.
Remanufactured equipment (sometimes called refurbised or reconditioned — it all depends on which company you are dealing with) has taken off quite a bit in the last few years as gym owners and home buyers both have realized they can purchase ultra high quality commercial equipment, in great condition for a fraction of the cost. Most remanufactured equipment with sell for 30-70% off of the original price! If you’ve ever wanted to have a Precor Elliptical or Life Fitness treadmill in your home, now you can!
The single most confusing thing about remanufactured equipment is just what it means…and what the difference between a remanufactured treadmill, a refurbished treadmill and a reconditioned on is. Unfortunately for buyers and poor service techs like the Treadmill Sensei, there are no industry standard definitions for these terms and what you get will vary from company to company. If you are going to buy remanufactured (or refurbished or whatever) equipment, make sure to ask what a company’s definition of what they are selling you is because you might be surprised at the answer. Some companies will just wipe a unit down, touch up the paint and then send it out the door as “remanufactured.” Beware of these companies!
Let’s go over the life of a piece of gym equipment destined for remanufacturing…this is something I do nearly every day for my repair clients so I know of what I speak!
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Posted in Fitness_Equipment | 
Tags: ellipticals, Fitness Equipment, guide, remanufactured, treadmills | 
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Are you using potentially dangerous exercises in your workout? You have to be very careful with strength training equipment because it may not be the most effective or functional available. How do you know that the exercises you are performing are safe? Found below are some potentially dangerous exercises with suggestions on how they should be done correctly or avoided completely.
Sit-up
Traditional abdominal exercises such as the sit-up, incline sit-up and hip-raises are exercises that are used to train the obliques and the upper and lower abdominals.
They are performed by first anchoring the feet on an abdominal board which prevents you from sliding back then raising your shoulders up towards your feet, tensing your abs at the top of the movement. Slowly lowering your shoulders back down and then completing the movement again.
The dangers of performing this movement are the shearing forces on the vertebrae and spinal discs when you have a flexed and rounded spine. In this position, the pressure is mostly placed on a very small area of the disc area, which can cause small ruptures. The safest and most productive way to train the abs is to use the brace and hollow technique. This is a basic isometric exercise that helps strengthen the abs and the muscular girdle around your waist.
Pec Deck
The pec deck is an exercise that trains the chest (pectorals) and shoulder (front deltoid) muscles.
This exercise is performed by sitting at the machine with your back flat against the back pad. Placing your forearms on the padded levers and position your upper arms parallel to the ground. Pushing the levers slowly together and squeezing your chest muscles at the end of the movement. Return slowly to the starting position.
This exercise is potentially dangerous because it places the shoulder into one of its least stable positions, the dislocation position. Because of the extreme position when performing this exercise at the starting position it can also cause tearing of the ligaments and injury to the rotar cuff tendons.
More effective and less dangerous is the bench press, keeping the arms at shoulder width and exercising in the strongest range of motion (partial reps) and the parallel bar dip with the elbows out.
Life is busy. Between jobs, housework, family, and errands, the days fly by. Add into that the task of spending time going to the gym, and it just doesn’t seem possible for a lot of us. Home exercise equipment and exercise videos are often a great alternative to spending time and money at a gym. If you are planning to start a home exercise routine, you may be wondering what type of exercise equipment you will need to get an effective workout. Often, you will find that you can get the best deals on home exercise equipment online.
First you will need to determine what is your current level of fitness and what goals you wish to accomplish. Your budget and the types of activities you enjoy are major factors as well. If you do not enjoy the exercises you are performing it is very easy to lose interest and quit. The safety of the exercise equipment and the amount of space you have in which to store and use the equipment is also a major concern.
Some of the different types of home exercise equipment are treadmills, elliptical trainers, stationery bicycles, cross-country ski machines, and free weights.
* Treadmills are very popular for use in the home. You can purchase a treadmill in any price range and with basic to advanced functions. You will need a treadmill with solid construction, smooth walking action, a wide belt, incline setting, and a safety cut-off. Make sure you understand the warranty and availability of replacements parts before making your purchase.
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