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CV


equipment


KEEPING PACE


Lauren Applegarth reports on the evolution of treadmills, and how


manufacturers are trying to make their models stand out from the crowd


The Pink Treadmill from CYBEX can be used by gyms to run breast cancer charity exercise events


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ynonymous with cardiovascular training since the development of early fitness models in the 1960s,


treadmills are among a select list of equipment that’s guaranteed to feature in almost any gym or health club. Seen by many as the fail-safe means to achieve indoor cardio exercise, innovation has meant that treadmills have become increasingly affordable, and therefore accessible to users of all ability levels. However, out of all equipment


categories, it is arguably treadmills that are seen to be the most generic and therefore the hardest to differentiate.


Matrix’s latest treadmill consoles are designed to be more interactive


So how do manufacturers make their models stand out from the crowd, and what are the driving factors that have led to these innovations?


overcoming obstacles Recent fitness industry trends have generated a number of challenges, not just to the treadmill as a piece of equipment but to the workout routine that the machine offers the user. Group exercise classes have become


increasingly popular across the spectrum of gym goers, while the recent shift towards functional fitness – including the introduction of expansive functional training zones – has meant that gym floor space now commands its highest premium yet. Treadmills are also commonly


linked with exercise-related injuries, particularly concerning impact injuries on the knee, foot and hip. Manufacturers are therefore posed with the challenge of minimising such risk, ensuring that the treadmill is as safe and user-friendly as


february 2012 © cybertrek 2012


possible. This has been heightened by the growth in popularity of ellipticals, which are marketed on their lower- impact, user-friendly features. All of this, combined with direct


competition from rival pieces of CV equipment, has meant that treadmill manufacturers have maintained ongoing product research and development to ensure that what was once the go-to piece of cardio equipment remains as integral to the user’s workout programme as ever before.


meeting demands Besides overcoming any challenges, it is important to understand what it is that a trainer requires and expects from the equipment: “The two key priorities for trainers and instructors are simple: to maximise benefits and outcomes, and to minimise the risk of injury,” explains Ben Wilde, international training director for CYBEX International.


“While this is not exclusive to treadmills, the ability to minimise the risk of injury is something that is of particular importance among treadmill designs.” The most common cause of injury on a treadmill can be attributed to


Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 45


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