Equipment Articles

A major component of the fitness professional’s job is to ...

Whether your fitness facility is in New York City or Flowery Branch, Georgia, chances are you have ready access to a collection of stability balls. Instead of watching them roll around like oversized marbles in an empty room, why not use them for a great group fitness offering? “Ready, Set, Roll” is a stability ball circuit class designed to help participants develop str...

Stability ball training has been used for many years to improve spinal stability and to reduce the risk of back pain. It is frequently employed in both the physical therapy and fitness settings. From an anatomical perspective, clinicians link the mechanisms of spinal stability to the trunk muscles, which are often grouped into two categories: the global muscle system and the local ...

Percentages in this section are likely the respondents’ estimates or observations. Respondents may not have had reference data. The estimated percentages do not equal 100% because of rounding.

Public-health officials and the press talk about good health and weight loss, but dedicated fitness professionals are doing the work of inspiring people to exercise. Using creative ideas, good science and great personal rapport, the fitness community is purposefully working behind the headlines to change lives.

Foam rollers have long been used in rehabilitation clinics as a multipurpose tool to improve core stability, balance, proprioception, soft-tissue mobility and body awareness. Now these versatile devices are being seen in Pilates mat classes, weight rooms, athletic training centers, physical therapy clinics and yoga studios.

Personal training continues to grow, despite the political and economic turmoil of the past few years. Responding to the 2004 IDEA Programs & Equipment Survey, IDEA personal fitness trainer (PFT) members reported positive directions in their profession. Highlights of this first-time survey showed trainers are experiencing