Misconceptions about trainers

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Commercials present exercise machines as a kind of miracle that can not only make your body beautiful, but also improve your health. As for health, it should be noted that in order to strengthen it, it is not at all necessary to visit the gym. With a much greater effect, you can practice various health systems at home (for example, Pilates, yoga, qigong, etc).

And as for the beauty of the body, here, too, not everything is so simple. And if the famous "Terminator" – Arnold Schwarzenegger once said that "simulators are pampering", then we will try to develop this thesis in more detail.

Experts note that the impact of training on simulators on the body is assessed mainly according to two criteria:

  1. general load, which increases the frequency of breathing, pulse and sweating intensity;
  2. muscle development.

The same experts believe that in order to satisfy the requirements of the first point, no simulators are required, since the best way to increase physical activity is running. Of course, running is not always available and not useful to everyone, but there is another method that has a great effect on the cardiorespiratory system – brisk walking.

As for the development of muscles, for example, for the abdominal muscles, according to experts, the simplest, most affordable and effective simulator is... the usual floor.

Misconceptions about trainers

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If we talk about exercise bikes, then they really give a certain physical activity and, perhaps, can help to lose weight to some extent. But men, before climbing on this unit, you should think about this. By pedaling, you not only burn calories, but with all your considerable weight (and you probably have a lot of it, since you climbed the “iron horse”), you press your most tender and unprotected place into the saddle. Scientists have calculated that a person weighing 80 kg, pedaling at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour, presses on his scrotum with a force equal to 250 kilograms. As a result, the blood vessels cease to cope with their direct duties. It's not far from failures in bed.

Misconceptions about trainers

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And a little about other simulators. Their trials were carried out by the Swedish Consumer Affairs Authority under the guidance of the remedial gymnastics trainer of Karolinska Institute teacher Helena Holmborg. 15 samples of simulators were selected for research: Abflex, Aerobislide, Abtoner, Abtrimmer, Buttmaster, Fitness, Stepper, Fiskus hopper, Tightraner, Friskus gummiband, Skipsnodden, Therraband. In addition to the effectiveness of the simulators and how many exercises can be performed on them, they also assessed how easy it is to assemble the simulators, prepare them for classes, and whether the instruction manual is detailed.

The Abflex Abdominal Machine received the lowest rating. “Inconvenient, boring, hard to use, bare plastic” is the review of this model.

Elastic bands – Friskus gummiband, Skipsnodden, Therraband and the rope Friskus hopper received the highest marks. They are easy to use, cheap and versatile. According to experts, one good elastic band, if used correctly, can replace an entire home gym, and the strength of resistance can be varied indefinitely. But, unfortunately, you will not see them in attractive commercials. There is a place only for expensive simulators.

Misconceptions about trainers

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Helena Holmborg, based on the results of the test, concluded the following: “If a person is healthy and believes that the game is worth the candle, you can experiment with any of the tested simulators. None of them can be said to be unusable or dangerous. But if you are recovering from an injury, then before you buy and use the simulator, be sure to consult with an independent specialist who is not interested in selling the product.