How Does Exercise Equipment Shape Up?

Faced with the fact that our New Year's resolution to get in shape has long gone awry, we decided it was time to test a wave of low-price (under $200), heavily marketed exercise gizmos, bringing in fitness expert Willy Green, a certified trainer in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., to help us review them. Judging from the latest figures available, we're not the only ones to be curious. Spending on fitness equipment geared for home use rose 5.1% to $3.54 billion in 2006 from a year earlier, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association.

First, we tried the Bean Deluxe ($50), an inflatable, rocking-style piece of equipment. GreenHouse International of Newark, Del., says its Bean line has posted sales of more than one million units since 2004. The Bean Deluxe is indeed shaped like a bean, albeit a gigantic bean that could seemingly double as a pool float. But there's a supposed logic to it: The air-cushioned surface provides a measure of comfort and support, while the curved design allows for a back-and-forth motion that makes doing crunches a lot easier.

The problem? It's too easy; we just didn't feel the pain, so to speak, that we associate with a good ab workout. That's common with rocking-style exercisers, our trainer noted. "It does the work for you," Mr. Green said. Plus, the bouncy unit positioned us perilously high off the ground. The company says that forces users to work muscles as they try to stabilize themselves. But our trainer was concerned about the possibility of injury. "If I'm not that coordinated, I'm going to fall," Mr. Green said. A spokeswoman for the manufacturer said the problem could be solved by letting a little air out of the unit so it's more stable.

Now that we had done a version of sit-ups, it was time to move on to push-ups -- specifically, the Perfect Pushup, which promises "a new spin on a classic exercise." That's because the device, developed by a Navy SEAL platoon commander and introduced in 2006, consists of two rotating handles. The idea is for the user to rotate their hands, arms and shoulders with every dip and push, reducing strain and maximizing strength. Our trainer professed to be a fan of the product -- we purchased a deluxe kit with accessories for $60 -- saying it lives up to its claim. But that's provided you're good at push-ups. We're not, so it was difficult to muster much appreciation for it. We finally managed a few push-ups from a kneeling position, as the manufacturer suggests for beginners. But ultimately our trainer felt our frustration: "This is an exercise tool for fit people," Mr. Green said. A spokeswoman for manufacturer BodyRev in Marin, Calif., countered that newcomers can work their way up, even if it means starting with just a few push-ups a day.

But what about a total body workout? That's what the Total Gym system promises. It's a device that vaguely resembles a piece of weightlifting equipment in a gym, replete with bench and pulleys. But in this case, the system relies on your own body, rather than weights, to provide resistance. The bench is set at an angle and glides along a track, forcing you to fight gravity as you lift yourself into place, with different exercises working different parts of the body.

Total Gym has been around since 1974 and is best known in a home version, marketed in an infomercial with Chuck Norris, that sells for as much as $1,750. But the company also manufacturers low-cost versions, sold through different retailers. We found the Total Gym 1100 through Wal-Mart Stores

But this proved to be an instance of getting-what-you-pay-for. The unit was noticeably flimsy and didn't provide a comfortable fit for a broad-shouldered individual nearly six feet tall. Moreover, it sometimes proved hard to operate without another person's assistance.

But it did provide decent resistance (we could definitely feel our muscles working on a few exercises), piquing our interest in the clearly sturdier, high-end models. Tom Campanaro, a founder of efi Sports Medicine in San Diego, which makes the Total Gym, responded that the 1100 is indeed "an entry-level unit," though he stood by the quality of construction.

Finally, we looked at a couple of products geared for cardiovascular fitness. The Urban Rebounder ($100 in a fitness-program package with three workout DVDs) resembles a mini indoor trampoline, but the product from Urban Group Exercise of New York isn't about gymnastics so much as controlled bouncing (there's a stabilizing bar to grip) as a form of aerobic activity. It's a variation on exercisers that "have been around for 40 years," said its creator, J.B. Berns, but with "real science" and safety behind it. There's a lot to be said for the rebounder in terms of the high-energy, enjoyable routine it provides -- you'll sweat plenty, but you'll have a blast (bouncing brings out the kid in everyone).

But our trainer was concerned about strain on the joints for heavier individuals or those with knee or hip problems. Mr. Berns countered that studies showed rebounding is "gentler on the joints" than many other aerobic activities.

Another piece of equipment that will have you moving up and down is the JumpSnap ($59.95, plus $9.95 for accompanying mat). This product, introduced within the past few years, bills itself as the world's first "ropeless jump rope." Loose translation: two handles, but no annoying rope to trip over. OK, it's a little more than that: Electronic sensors in the handles measure your jump-by-jump progress and even provide the sound of a swishing rope calibrated to your pace. But there's no denying this is more motivational tool than exercise equipment, since you can replicate the same admittedly solid (but semi-stressful-on-the-joints) aerobic workout by just jumping in place and flapping your hands, as our trainer was quick to note. Mr. Green also pointed out that jumping over a physical rope improves coordination, which is why boxers favor the exercise.

Trampoline Americans Jiaochinisang imported from the United States, and from the trampoline sports and the entertainment value of the characteristics of the trampoline was studied and improved, more secure and easier to bounce. After Jiaochinisang trampoline set up their own companies, the production of the trampoline after the reform. When this new trampoline occurred, the first to be used as a military training Air Force equipment, but soon was space research institutions to pilot and astronaut training. Medical unit soon will all this equipment for the treatment of disability and rehabilitation. Soon trampoline its unique characteristics and interesting fitness and loved by young people.

Trampoline as a competition, after the end of World War II the United States first started, but quickly spread to Europe, and gradually spread to all continents. With the growing popularity of Trampoline and influence continues to expand, in 1964 the International Federation Trampoline established in Switzerland the same year, held its first session of the World Trampoline Championship. So far, the International Federation Trampoline has grown to 47 Member States, organised a total of 23 session of the World Trampoline Championship.

International Olympic Committee will be the 106th meeting of the Olympic trampoline as a formal event, a single man and woman online online single two gold medals. 2000 Sydney Olympic Games for the first time trampoline competitions, which greatly promoted the trampoline sports development in the world.

August 1997, the State Sports Commission issued the movement in our country in trampoline notice, and from the 2001 decision of the Ninth National Games, Trampoline additional game. Games trampoline event four gold medals, namely: men online, the woman online, men s groups and women s groups (3 groups of online players with a list of achievements of the athletes jump results).

Notice issued, and because it is Olympic Games, so swiftly mushroomed across as vigorous in trampoline, in November 1998 at the first National Trampoline Championship, at that time the country will participate in the 18 team, is developing rapidly. After the national championship held every year, the National Championship, the National Youth

Trampoline athletes in the project is 4.28 m long, 2.14 m wide, high-l.15 meters flexible online for doing 10 different somersault or somersault swivel action, in accordance with the athletes in the air and overturned several weeks and the degree swivel action, as well as basic posture to score. Athletes air and flip a few weeks reading the more basic posture more standardized, the higher the score. The project is also known as the air ballet, is the best way to fully demonstrate Human Motion US projects. Athletes from the Internet may be up for 8 to 10 meters high, relative other projects, adequate time and space, therefore, trampoline moves elegant, elegant, a set of high-quality action to give a sense of pleasure.

Integrated is a small trampoline in the vault and trampoline gymnastics two of the characteristics of the currency project, the equipment is one ares ramp of shells network and the level of a network of bombs. After a certain distance of the athletes running, jumping ramps ares first ramp of shells net sprung up in the air after the completion of a somersault or somersault swivel action, the level of bombs fall on the Internet, and then sprung up in the air completed another action, then landed firm. For athletes with good speed, bouncing, control, movement difficulty and good rhythm. At present, China s project did not carry out small trampoline.

Single-hop commonly known as the somersault , in essence, a single item with the skills jump the same, only different game rules, and gymnastics in the floor exercise also similar. Single-hop request athletes in the 25 meters long, uninterrupted pull tossed consecutive complete eight feet by hand or by foot to foot to the action for athletes with strong physiques especially speed, bouncing, rhythm, its ability to control, such as . Single-hop after the completion of a movement gives people a sense of myeloid Weathering the showers. Fully show that the human body speed, strength and coordination capabilities of the combination of charm.

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