A Benchmark for Accessibility

By Joseph D. Lore
July 2008

Featured in Fitness Management Magazine July 2008

http://fitnessmanagement.com/articles/article.aspx?articleid=2450&zoneid=18

 From equipment to flooring to lockers, staff at the Syracuse University Fitness Center at Marshall Square Mall made every effort to make the facility accessible to individuals of all levels of physical ability.

Officials at Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y., embrace diversity as one of their core values, making every effort to provide an inclusive, fully accessible campus environment. As such, each member of the Syracuse University community is entitled to opportunities for involvement in all recreation services, programs and activities. However, even with more than 10,000 square feet of exercise equipment located in four campus fitness centers, feedback from patrons, coupled with usage numbers and patterns, revealed that these facilities were insufficient in meeting the fitness needs of the campus community (which has annual usage numbers of more than 210,000 students, faculty and staff).

To come up with a solution, an advisory committee was formed during the fall 2006 semester to identify potential locations for additional recreation facilities. The committee targeted August 2007 for project completion, concurring with the beginning of the fall 2007 semester.

After a space was found, construction began for the Syracuse University Fitness Center at Marshall Square Mall. Many factors were taken into consideration prior to the final construction stage of the project. Facility design elements such as equipment, flooring and locker rooms required careful planning, including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Special consideration was taken to ensure that the facility included different types of fitness equipment that could be used by individuals with varying levels of physical ability. The planning committee used recommendations from the Syracuse University Beyond Compliant Coordination Committee to assure the facility promoted equal access by all members of the campus community.

The new facility features 3,900 square feet of space in upper and lower levels, which are joined by a ramp. Twelve weight machines were purchased, including five total-access units with swing-away seats for wheelchair access. Ten treadmills were purchased, of which two units include Braille overlays on the control panel, and one adjustable-position upper-body cycle was purchased. A stretching area contains elevated mats that measure 4 by 6 by 16 feet, which allows for above-the-floor stretching, and an easier transition by those in wheelchairs. Flooring was installed with orange aisles that measure 36 inches wide to meet ADA design standards for those in wheelchairs. Color contrast is used to assist those who are visually impaired with accessing machines, stretching mats and locker rooms.

In addition, the facility features three individual, unisex bathrooms that have accessible showers, toilets and sinks. (ADA requires a minimum of one dressing or changing room to be accessible.) One bathroom includes an internal automatic door opener and an emergency call system. Also, 50 percent of the lockers in the facility are within reach of a seated individual.

The Syracuse University Fitness Center at Marshall Square Mall is staffed by student employees. They are trained to have consistent interaction with all individuals, including those with disabilities. Staff is trained to not be afraid to offer assistance to those with disabilities, but also not to be overprotective. Written information about the accessibility of the facility is provided for patrons and staff.

Syracuse University is committed to creating a campus environment that is free from discrimination and celebrates diversity. This includes equal opportunities and access to the university's programs, services and facilities. The Syracuse University Fitness Center at Marshall Square Mall personifies this attitude, and is a benchmark for accessibility for the campus.

Skating without the ice

Hockey training centre goes high-tech

Article featured in the Barrier Examiner

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1105835

Posted By BY IAN SHANTZ

Paul Ryckman figures hockey without ice is the way of the future.

Not figuratively, of course. But the president of Garner's Source for Sports in Barrie is about to open the doors to an ice-free hockey training facility he says is long overdue, and will revolutionize the way athletes train locally.

With the sport a 365-day-a-year commitment for many elite-level athletes and their families these days, Ryckman says the Garner's Source for Sports Training Centre -- with its high-end computerized training equipment -- comes at just the right time.

"Hockey has become high-tech," said Ryckman, a hockey dad. "Hockey is evolving. It's a changing game, and with change comes the necessity of being functional at the modern level."

Although this city does produce high-quality hockey players, Ryckman says "Barrie, as a rule, across all levels of 'AAA', suffers" in comparison to the training that's available in larger centres in the GTA.

He hopes to change what he perceives to be a lack of technologically-advanced training available in this area.

"If you want to compete against the country's best, and if you want to develop players into high-quality OHL potential and quality teams that scouts are going to look at, you need to give (athletes) the right tools."

The jewels of Ryckman's downtown facility are two state-of-the-art training systems.

The Blade skating treadmill allows athletes to develop and improve skating skills in a controlled environment, while the RapidShot puck shooting machine offers insight on which hockey stick is best suited for each individual player by utilizing data obtained through shooting drills.

The skating treadmill -- a roughly $300,000 hunk of advanced technology -- is just as it sounds. With its polythylene cleated surface, the low-friction, eight feet by 10 feet track allows athletes to work on their skating technique using their own skates, in a controlled environment.

Up to six skaters can work on their stride during the same session. Athletes are secured on the treadmill by a safety harness.

The treadmill can operate at various speeds and degrees of inclines, providing a challenge to both beginners and pros.

Video equipment is installed around the treadmill, so those using it get a visual assessment of what they're doing right, or what they need to work on.

"This machine does not lie," Ryckman said. "It shows you exactly what's going on."

According to Ryckman, the treadmill is designed to improve a skater's stride, ultimately helping he or she to become a more efficient hockey player who can take longer shifts during games.

"The treadmill teaches the proper fundamentals of skating skills," he said, adding the machine is useful to players of all levels as well. The Vancouver Canucks recently purchased two of the systems.

According to Ryckman, the skating treadmill is the first of its kind north of Toronto and one of few in Canada.

If skating ability is a hockey player's greatest asset, than shooting is surely a close second. With that in mind, the RapidShot machine is intended to point youngsters in the right direction when looking to buy a new stick.

The machine electronically measures a player's reaction time, release and shot speed, giving athletes a better idea of what stick works best.

"Ninety per cent of the kids who come into the store say they want to buy a new stick, and they're excited," Ryckman said. "They want (a stick) because it looks good, or because they saw it in the NHL. They have no idea if it's the right stick, and two weeks later, they bring it back, because they say they don't like it."

While Ryckman is looking forward to youngsters making use of the new equipment, he said there are plans to add future equipment to the centre.

"This is just the first phase," he said.

The public is invited to an open house slated for Saturday, from 10 a. m. to 3 p. m. The facility is located at 56 Dunlop St. W.

Steve Jacobson Promotes a Healthier Approach to Golf

PALM DESERT - You're probably never going to be as fit as Tiger Woods, and you're probably never going to be able to hit a golf ball as far as the game's No. 1 player.But, Steve Jacobson insists, if you improve your physical conditioning, you can be a better player. Or at least maintain your game against the ravages of age.

"This is really for the guy who is standing on the first tee on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and seeing his drive go from 220 (yards) to 200 to 180," said Jacobson, who pushes physical fitness for golf through his Tour Golf Fitness program. "What you want to do is stop or reverse that trend."

Jacobson has the sole desert franchise of Tour Golf Fitness, a program with powerful golf names behind it that promises to help players with strength training, flexibility and weight-resistant exercises that mimic specific movement of the golf swing.

Developed in part by fitness expert David Dise, the program has had consultation from teaching guru Butch Harmon, U.S. Open winner Tom Kite, golf psychologist Bob Rotella and players and official Vinnie Giles.

During a Monday presentation of the program to members of the Desert Chapter PGA at Woodhaven Country Club, the home of the program in the desert, Jacobson and Dise promised not to turn average golfers into pros, but to help recreational players and their teachers to improve the player's game through better overall fitness.

"The market we are looking at here, I would honestly say, is 50 to 75, which is a major part of the country club members," Jacobson said. "There are maybe declining in health, their golf swings are in steady decline. They have worked their lives to generate income so that they could retire and play golf. But because they don't play as well as they want, they don't enjoy it now."

Mike Shea, education director for the local PGA chapter, arranged for the seminar as part of ongoing education for local club and teaching pros because fitness is becoming a greater emphasis in golf.

"We can't dance around it any more," Shea said in front of about 20 chapter members at the seminar. "We can't put a gun to someone's head, but I think ethically we have to tell our students that if they lose that 50 pounds it would improve their game."

The Tour Golf Fitness program incorporates basic strength and flexibility training that might be featured in any fitness program. The difference comes from some patented equipment, including a stretching machine that has been used by NFL teams.

The main feature of the program, though, is a series of weight-resistant exercises worked off another patented machine. Through a series of weights, pulleys and hand-held equipment, the machine allows a golfer to work muscle groups by imitating the exact golf swing movements. Progress is measured through slowly increasing the weight used in the resistance, not by increasing repetitions of the swing movement.

"So we address the whole swing, the strength training program, the flexibility training program and then golf specific," Jacobson said.

Both Jacobson and Dise added that since the program is basically self-directed, a student could work out at any time, keeping his or her own progression charts without the need for a full-time trainer.

In addition to promoting the benefits of the program, Jacobson and Dise want to promote the program as an amenity for private country clubs. They hope that, for an investment of $30,000 for equipment and marketing material, other private clubs will be inspired to put the fitness program in their clubhouses.

"It's for high-end clubs," Jacobson said. "There are a lot of clubs that have fitness centers, but they sit there empty because people won't do the exercises or invest the time without knowing they are getting something that will help their golf game. The reality is only about 15 percent of members use those facilities. This is something members will use."

Jacobson and Dise are convinced Tour Golf Fitness and other golf-related fitness programs will only grow in the coming years as the game's top golfers continue to prove the fitter golfer is the better golfer. Woods, for instance, debuted on tour in 1996 as a highly flexible but skinny 155-pound player. Now Woods is pushing 200 pounds, and Dise said Woods looks like he could put on a uniform and play any traditional team sport.

"You are starting to see the cream really separate themselves," Jacobson said. "The problem is there are guys who finish 100th on tour and make a million dollars and don't really care. If I can make a million on tour a year, why do I want to work out three or four times a week?"

That might be true for some recreational players who are only interested in the social aspect of playing with their friends, Jacobson admitted. But for those interested in maintaining their handicap or even improving their game, a program like Tour Golf Fitness can make the difference, he said.

"Eight percent to 90 percent of a (county club's) membership is made up of golfers," Jacobson said. "Why wouldn't you want to use something that is golf-specific?"

To see the original article please visit mydesert.com

Waukesha, WI - October 8, 2007 - WOODWAY USA, the world's largest specialized treadmill manufacturer has announced the release of a longer life running surface that will last over 200,000 miles without a single belt change. In conjunction with this innovation comes an industry exclusive 7 year running surface wear warranty.

"The release of Woodway's unprecedented wear warranty is a confirmation of our continued focus on building the most durable treadmill on the planet and demonstrates our commitment to ensuring our customers receive the best return on their investment while providing their users with the ideal running experience,"  said Eric Weber - Director of Sales and Marketing for WOODWAY. "This longer lasting running surface in conjunction with our already extremely efficient design saving more than 50% on electrical consumption sets the bar for environmentally friendly treadmills extremely high."

"The key in developing the extended life running surface was preserving the ideal comfort factor that has always separated WOODWAY from conventional treadmills. After 3 plus years of development we are excited to provide one more innovation to ensure the success of our customers through sustainable solutions allowing them to realize a greater return on their investment For the Long Run."

For more information please contact Michael Frank, Marketing Coordinator.  Woodway - 800-966-3929 x 154

G-Trainer

Woodway partners with Alter-G to bring you the first anti-gravity treadmill. The G-Trainer anti-gravity treadmill gives the user a feeling of unweighting enabling users to reduce their effective body weight during exercise to continue training during injury recovery, outdistance conditioning limitations, and build endurance.

Gravity Differential Technology

• Originally developed at NASA
• Advanced air pressure regulation system
• Physical lifting force produced by difference in air pressure around user's body
• Reduce effective body weight by as much as 80% in as small as 1% increments

G-Trainer Difference

• Unrestricted mobility
• Natural body movement
• Full range of motion
• Extended, broad range of variables
• In-use setting adjustments
• Customized around the Woodway Desmo treadmill

Safety and Reliability

• Emergency stop magnet and safety lanyard
• Advanced SlatFlex® shock absorption
• Life expectancy of running surface 130,000 - 150,000 miles
• Air pressure system rated for 5,000 hours before maintenance

Performance

• User weight capacity: 400 pounds (227 kg)    
• Effective Body Weight Range: 100% to 20% of user's body weight at 1% increments        
• Running surface width: 22 inches (56 cm)      
• Running surface length: 62 inches (158 cm)    
• Speed range forward: 0 - 18 miles per hour (0 - 8.0 meters/second)              
• Speed range reverse: 0 - 10 miles per hour (0 - 4.47 meters/second)             
• Elevation range: 0 - 15%         

Physical Dimensions

• Length: 94 inches (240 cm)     
• Width: 40 inches (102 cm)       
• Height: Small - 72" (183 cm), Medium - 75" (192 cm), Large - 78.5" (200 cm)      
• Weight: 1000 pounds (455 kg)            

Recommended Room Dimensions

• 12' by 8' footprint allows for adequate spacing around machine.      
• Adequate ceiling height should account for user's height with running surface approximately 15" above ground.             

Electrical Requirements

• 220 VAC 30A, 60 Hertz, NEMA 6L-30 receptacle    
• G-Trainer should be within 10' of electrical outlet           

Environmental Operating Conditions

• Ambient Temperature: +10°C to +29°C (0°F to +84°F)         
• Relative Humidity: 20 to 95%

visit http://www.alter-g.com/ to learn more

WOODWAY Expanding into Golf Specific Fitness

WOODWAY has partnered with fitness industry strength leader Strive, cardio manufacturer SCIFIT and Proflex to form Tour Golf Fitness TGF is a turn-key golf specific fitness program that is designed to provide golf and fitness clubs with a golf fitness solution designed for their members. The Tour Golf Fitness package is a combination of cardiovascular and golf specific training modules using progressive resistance to mimic exact movements used in golf.

"Tour Golf Fitness is a golf program like no other," explains Sean Couillard of Tour Golf Fitness. "The golf swing is so unique you can train a golfer so he can duplicate their exact swing adding power flexibility and overall years of golf life. "Dr. Gary Wiren" was the first leading golf instructor to promote the enormous performance-enhancing benefits of sport-specific fitness training. He also wrote the PGA of America teaching manual reported (FITNESS DIRECTOR). Vinny Giles, one of the game's greatest agents and players and Dr. Bob Rotella, leading sports psychologists and best selling golf author, endorse and helped develop the program.  The fact that top of the line fitness equipment manufacturers are partnered adds a degree of credibility and quality that you can trust."

Woodway Treadmill Featured in Forbes Ten Best Ways To Blow Your Bonus

Excerpt taken from Forbes.com:

Healthy Options
After pushing yourself to earn that bonus, there's no better time to splurge on something for your overworked body.

Personal trainers and other health and fitness experts say clients are booking trips to wellness resorts such as Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Ariz., where they can take advantage of a customized, four-night Optimal Stress Management package, starting at $4,505.

Other indulgences include heli-skiing trips in untracked powder in places such as Jackson Hole and British Columbia, or buying the ultimate toy, like the Force Treadmill by Woodway, which trains athletes for speed and anaerobic endurance and starts at $9,450.

Golf lovers, on the other hand, may pour their money into time with sports psychologists, who can charge tens of thousands of dollars to help improve their swing.

"It's not about purchasing golf clubs anymore," says Don Saladino, co-owner of the New York golf gym Drive 495, about trends he's seeing. "At any level it comes down so much to psychology. What makes Tiger Woods so fantastic is that mentally every day he can do it over and over."

To view the entire article go to Forbes.com http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/2007/01/30/items-blow-bonus-forbeslife-cx_fs_0130blowbonus.html