About Fitness Equipment
Know Your Equipment
Fitness equipment
is any machine used for exercise. This range from treadmill, exercise
cycle, elliptical cross trainer, steam bath, sauna bath, Jacuzzi, dumbbells,
plates, bar and strength machines like lat pull-down, peck flies, smith
machine, leg press, preacher curling.
Fitness equipment
for the gym (commercial use) is generally meant by term. They are superior
quality, stability, safe, user friendly. They can help and exerciser
achieves greater physical results.
Weight
Machine
Strength machine use gravity as the source of resistance and a simple
biomechanical mechanism to convey that resistance, to the exerciser
using this machine.
Selectorized
machine
A Selectorized
Machine also called a stack machine, has a bunch of rectangular
weight plates that are pierced by a vertical rod (Selector Bar) which
has holes to accept a pin (Selector Pin). Each of the weight plate has
a hole through the middle that aligns with the hole of the selector
bar. When the selector pin is inserted through the plate hole, all of
the above plate rest upon it, when the bar raises the plate above selector
pin rises and below do not rise. This allows the machine to provide
several levels of resistance over the same range of motion. Each plate
is marked with a number the actual weight of the plate and those above
it.
Machines weight
stack plate is attached with the cable or belt, which working through
pulleys or wheel. At the other end Handle or strap is attached with
cable which can be holds by the exerciser.
Plate Loaded
Machine
A Plate
Loaded Machine also called as free weight machine, these machine
uses barbell plates instead of rectangular weight stack plates.
The plate loaded
machines often have very high biomechanical advantages, in these machines
the motion will generally not be a vertical it is moving relative to
angled path.
Dumbbell
A dumbbell is a Fitness
Equipment made of material solid M.S. or Mild Steel it can be powder
coated, chrome plates or fully rubberized used for a weight training
exercise. They can be used individually or in pairs.
A dumbbell was used in India from more than thousands of year. It was
used in pairs for increase strength and muscle by bodybuilders, sportsman,
wrestlers and others.
“Dumbbells”
as a word originated in Tudor England, athletes and bodybuilders used
it for hand-held to develop the biceps muscle. “Dumbbell”
as equipment originated from church bell these was used by athletes
for exercise. This would have made a great deal of noise, so the athletes
would take out the clappers so they could exercise quietly – hence
the name “dumb” and “bell” – DUMBBELL.
When experts started to make their own equipment, they kept the name.
There are
currently three types of dumbbell
< Adjustable Dumbbell >
< Fixed Dumbbell >
< Selectorized Dumbbell >
Barbell
A barbell is a piece of metal rod used in weight training, weightlifting
and powerlifting. It consists one or more sets of loose weight plate
and collars. It ranges from 4 ft. to 7 Ft., diameter close to one inch.
And is engraved with a crosshatch knurled to get a good grip for weightlifter,
Desired weight plate are slid onto the outer portions of the Barbell
(same weight plate both side) to obtain desired weight. These weights
are locked with collars to prevent sliding off for safe exercise.
An Olympic barbell consists of a bar in which the revolving sleeves.
This revolving sleeve enables the loose weight plate to spin on their
own axis, which enable weightlifters to balance the bar with ease.
Standard barbell
diameter can be 25mm all the way, typically weight 10Kg. in some country
30mm diameter bar are also quite common.
Men’s
Barbell
Men’s Olympic barbell is a metal bar that is 2.2meter (7.22 Ft)
long and weight 44.1 Lbs. (20Kg.) The outer revolving sleeve are 50mm
in diameter, While grip diameter is 28mm. It is the standard used in
weightlifters competition where women and men both compete at the highest
level. Olympic bar can be longer to allow loading of more plates and
thicker. The international weightlifting federation does not allow the
longer and thicker bars.
Plates used on
the Olympic bar are 5, 10, 15, 25, 35 and 45 Lbs. and multiples thereafter.
Women’s
Barbell
Women’s Olympic barbell is similar to the men’s barbell,
but is shorter and lighter 33.07 Lbs. (15Kg.), while thinner grip diameter
is 25mm.
Plates
0.5 Kg: White
1 Kg: Green
1.5 Kg: Yellow
2 Kg: Blue
2.5 Kg: Red
5 Kg: White
10 Kg: Green
15 Kg: Yellow
20 Kg: Blue
Different plates
are used outside of International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) sanctioned
competition. Loose weight plates used in training need not conform to
IWF or any weightlifting specifications; it can be in any color. In
training the lighter weight plate 2.5Kg and 5Kg is used by beginning
athletes for proper lifting position. These can be aluminum or plastic
with rubberized bumper edges.
EZ Curling
Bar
The EZ
Bar is used for bicep curling, triceps extension, upright rowing,
close grip bench press, Its zigzag grip allow exerciser forearms and
wrist curling to take neutral position, These prevent injury through
exercise.
Collars
Standard barbell collar be of metal, and they can weight up to 2.5Kg
for men and women. A barbell weight can be as much as 25Kg. for men
and 20Kg. for women including collar.
Exercise Ball
Exercise balls are available in several of size. They are also known
as fitness ball, gym ball, stability ball, therapy ball, sports ball
and body ball. Large balls are specifically used for Pilates exercises.
Exercise ball can also be used for abdominal exercise and it help to
treat low back pain and also to prevent future back pain. The exercise
ball work for older people, pregnant woman and athletes. The ball mostly
used for strengthening and developing the vertebral column (Spine).
A Medicine ball also known as exercise ball is available in roughly
diameter of 14 Inch, larger than a football and are used for strength
training and rehabilitation. It plays an important role in the sports
medicine field.
Elliptical Machine
Elliptical used for cardiovascular exercise, it works the user’s
upper and lower body. An Elliptical trainer also known as cross trainer
is a exercise machine used for a simple walking or running exercise
without causing excessive pressure to the joints, it decrease the risk
of injuries through workout. Elliptical
machine (Cross Trainer) is a combination of treadmill and stair climber.
It contains two steps which move as elliptical motion. Elliptical Cross
Trainer has a magnetic resistance control from light to high intensity
for adding difficulty preference set by the exerciser.
Some elliptical can be
driven forward as well as reverse direction. Elliptical trainer are
initially driven via legs, combination designs having handle attached
to each steps (Pedal) for enabling a burden on the user’s arm
to provide source of driving power.
Treadmill
A treadmill is an exercise machine used for walking as well as running
while staying in one place. A word Treadmill
is refers to a type of mill which was operated by the human or animal
treading steps of a wheel to grind grain.
The treadmill provide
with an electric motor or fly wheel and conveyor belt. The conveyor
belt moves to allowing a exerciser to run or walk, The speed of running
may be automatically measured and controlled by user with the help of
control panel which has several settings on it like speed controller,
Heart rate and Speed display, Auto incline facility up to 12Dgr or 20Dgr
angle as well as pre set programs.
Links: SAI
Works , Invest
Vista , SunSai
Fitness ,
FITNESS EQUIPMENT