of motion, causing less stress on the joints and knees and more activation of the glutes and hamstrings. According to Cybex, studies show that using the Arc burns up to 16% more calories than a traditional elliptical machine.


A leader in equipment for the disabled Cybex is also on the leading edge


Cybex environmental manufacturing


when it comes to equipment for people with disabilities. The Total Access line of cardio and strength equipment was a direct descendant of the company’s rehab and medical past and was de- signed for those with cognitive, senso- ry or physical impairments. Total Access machines have easier


Hicks. “Our medical and scientific his- tory really forms the foundation for that mission.” That foundation comes to life at the


Massachusetts-based Cybex Research Institute, the research and education- al arm of the company. Its faculty are specialists in fields such as kinesiology, sport and exercise psychology, sports physiology, sports performance train- ing and biomedical engineering. Besides conducting its own re-


search, CRI teams up with other scien- tists, engineers and researchers to in- vestigate and test current exercise and fitness methods, techniques and prod- ucts, as well as future concepts and plans to determine their effectiveness and validity. Hicks believes that the company’s


scientific and medical heritage gives it the ability to forge relationships and develop new ways of doing business with research hospitals and founda- tions, universities, sports performance centres, medical facilities and fitness/ training organizations. And those part- nerships lead to more scientific knowl- edge and breakthroughs.


Science not fads They are also myth-busters, lend-


ing a critical and scientific eye to fit- ness trends and fads and determining what really works and what may have less value. “Just because something sells, if it’s


Cybex Research Institute July/August 2014 Fitness Business Canada 29


going to injure people that’s not our thing,” cautions Hicks. “We’ve got to get better results for us to consider de- veloping it. It really does impact our vi- sion and our strategy going forward.” That outlook has led to innova-


tions like the Arc Trainer, introduced in 2002. Based on years of scientific research and analysis, the Arc Trainer turned the concept of elliptical train- ing on its head. On the Arc, legs travel in a bio-mechanically correct path


layouts, colour coded consoles and ad- justability that accommodates wheel- chair users, giving access to everyone from older patrons with limited mobil- ity to top athletes, such as Team U.S.A. wheelchair rugby gold medalist Scott Hogsett. “This fits very well with our medical


rehab founding and with our goals of trying to help people get better,” notes Hicks, who is also proud that Cybex manufactures everything in the U.S. All strength training equipment is


produced at an Owatonna, Minnesota plant, a 340,000-square-foot facil- ity (the size of eight football fields) »


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