Newfangled Contraptions Are

Marianne Bloomfeld

Here

As the new gym equipment started rolling into the Fitness Center in June 2022 and most of our old familiar equipment was rolling out, some of us regular users wondered: are these new machines for body builders or for us? We found they were state-of-the-art equipment from TechnoGym, a high-end company that makes user-friendly, innovative gym equipment designed for seniors, elite athletes, and just about everyone else. A primary benefit is that residents can independently manage their own workout routines.

Kendal’s original gym equipment, here since 2005, had been subjected to a good deal of wear and tear. In many cases, repair parts were no longer available. So, about five years ago, Lisa Wacht, Cathy DiSomma and others began investigating and evaluating replacement equipment. Even for someone who had not been to the Kendal gym before, like Jennifer Gardy, getting started was easy.

First, a Fitness Center staff member did a functional assessment and designed a personalized fitness regimen for her. Then the staffer adjusted the new strength circuit machines for her by setting seat and shoulder positions, resistance and repetitions, and programming the settings. Using her wrist band, Jennifer can now automatically set up the machine for her personal workout. This frees up staff members to assist other users. Further, as Jennifer progresses over time, she can, on her own, readjust any of the settings any time, allowing her to move to a higher intensity workout (or take it easy on occasion). Jennifer enjoys the computergame-like display showing whether she has reached her goal, and finds it gratifying when the display tells her she is ready to increase the number of reps or resistance.

Gretchen Engler “always hated the gym and did no exercise during the pandemic lockdown.” After trying the new equipment, she says, “I became a new person.” Gretchen enjoys the immediate feedback from the machines: “The on-screen visuals show you’re within your range and monitors your progress.” She plans to add more of the new machines to her regimen as she is already seeing improvements in her strength, as well as her energy level and mood. Gretchen is using the MyWellness app to keep track of her workouts and she receives a weekly summary via email.

When Stan Amberg first started going to a gym in 1960, the strength equipment was lead weights on pulleys. The new machines he is now using are light-years beyond this and also beyond what he could have imagined. He was impressed with the thorough assessment by the fitness staff prior to setting up the machines and his wrist band. Stan knew his strength was increasing when he received feedback telling him to “decrease your rest time” and “increase the resistance.” His goal is to tone muscles using the upper body machines and the leg press, and he looks forward to his 3-times-a-week workouts.

Bill Rakower was happy that the original Nu-Steps (seated cross trainers) were left in place because he uses them regularly. In response to people who say they’re too old to exercise,

Bill, who is 103, responds, “You’re never too old to go to the gym; it’s always good to move.” He also uses the upper body machines and the leg press, with the goal of maintaining strength despite age-related muscle weakness.

In all, 19 new pieces of equipment were installed. Electrical wiring with new outlets was updated to accommodate them, particularly their computerized capabilities. In addition to the strength circuit machines (four for upper body, five lower body), there is a variety of high-tech cardio machines: treadmills, an elliptical cross trainer, bicycles, and a rower. (The original stretching station is also still here.)

The largest, most imposing piece of equipment is the Kinesis, which is an adjustable cable system for strength training for all muscle groups, combining the action of free weights and machines. It is easy for anyone to use, seated, standing, even in a wheelchair. The three treadmills have special features. Two of them are familiar looking, with motorized belts and a monitor that displays your workout data, along with a virtual walk through many exotic destinations. There are dozens of videos to choose from, such as remote rural villages, cities at night, boardwalks along a seashore, jungles with birds and monkeys. The third treadmill, the Skill-Mill, is a novel design that is self-propelled by the user, who controls both speed and effort. This machine can be incorporated into a physical therapy regimen for knees or hips, and also can be used for marathon training. The rowing machine will remind you of those days on your college crew team, or allow you to pretend you were there. The machine is a comfortable height for getting on and off; its monitor displays your workout data. It can be programmed with an app on your cellphone for a more advanced workout (if you really were on your college crew team). An elliptical trainer (standing cross trainer) and four stationary bicycles (two upright and two recumbent) offer additional cardio workouts, programmed by the user at each session. The monitors on the bikes, like those on the treadmills, will take you on a virtual tour all over the world.

For tracking your body metrics, there are machines too. One measures your blood pressure and heart rate (pulse). The other measures your weight and body composition: water, lean muscle mass, fat mass, muscle-fat analysis, BMI, and percentage of body fat. This might be more than you want to know, but it is available if you’re interested. With all the options that our Fitness Center offers, it’s easy to continue or to develop an exercise regimen.