A STRENGTHENING TREND

Surveys from the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) show that strength training is a growing trend among health club members.

In the recent IHRSA 2009 Profiles of Success report, 72 percent of health clubs surveyed offer strength training, and 38 percent offer group strength training. In the recent IHRSA 2009 Consumer Report, resistance machines top the list, with 27.8 percent of club members reporting that they use resistance machines. After treadmills (23.5 percent), elliptical trainers (17.7 percent) and upright stationary cycling (15.3 percent), dumbbells are fifth on the list at 15.2 percent, immediately followed by hand weights (15.1 percent), abdominal machines (14.7 percent) and barbells (14.2 percent).

This year's edition of SGMA's “Tracking the Fitness Movement” report shows that hand weights and weight/resistance machines are among the five most popular fitness activities in the United States, right alongside walking for fitness, treadmills and running/jogging. The report also shows that nearly 30 percent of core fitness participants — who exercise 50 or more days a year — are 55 years of age or older. The 2008 edition of SGMA's report showed that among core participants, more Americans over 35 (19.1 million) used resistance machines and home gyms than those under 35 (14.8 million).

A STRONG FIT

Strength training for Baby Boomers and novice gym goers may not seem like a perfect fit for key-card clubs, such as Snap Fitness and Anytime Fitness, where staff is not always present to help members. However, even these clubs are promoting strength training to members. Snap Fitness, Chanhassen, MN, has a 30-minute Basic 8 Plan program on its Web site, which features the benefits of strength training.

Chad Baldwin, the director of personal training for Snap Fitness, says more equipment manufacturers are introducing all-in-one functional training machines with multiple adjustments and handle options. These machines can be used for exercises that target the major and minor muscle groups, Baldwin says.

“This trend is allowing everyone from the beginner to the advanced exerciser to get what they need from one piece of equipment,” Baldwin says. “Fitness professionals can complete their client's entire routine in one place by adjusting the machine to target the different muscle groups. Many personal training studios have a functional training machine to maximize exercise options while using the least amount of space.”

Baldwin adds that in most cases, members will need some form of guidance to navigate the all-in-one machines. Snap Fitness does have instruction available for its standard equipment package, and since the functional trainer is an “add-on” piece, it will be up to each club's franchisee to decide the method of instruction, Baldwin says.

This month, Anytime Fitness, Hastings, MN, rolled out a new Web site, that has a series of exercise videos involving machines, cables, free weights, body weights and exercise balls to strengthen all areas of the body.

Brian Zehetner, director of Anytime Health for Anytime Fitness, says manufacturers are producing equipment, such as bars, stability balls and kettlebells, that do not isolate one particular muscle group, helping members get a full workout.

“It's not all about getting big muscles, and it's not necessarily all about losing weight anymore, even though those are still two common goals,” Zehetner says. “A lot of people see strength training as a means of feeling better and moving better.”

STEPS TO STRENGTH TRAINING

Wayne Westcott, the fitness research director at Quincy College, Quincy, MA, uses a pyramid of strength training with previously untrained or older adults. The pyramid begins at the bottom with foundational training on machines, then moves up to fundamental training involving free weights. At the top is functional training involving medicine balls and other exercise balls. Beginning training at the top of the pyramid with functional exercises is not a good idea, Westcott says.

“You can do all kinds of things with functional [training], but too many people jump into it first before people have built their base of strength in their major muscles,” says Westcott, who retired earlier this year after spending 30 years with the YMCA. “I think that is a mistake in our industry. [Functional training is] more fun, maybe, but it's like the dessert. You still need your fish and your potatoes and vegetables first.”

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