The American Council on Exercise
(ACE), a nonprofit workout watchdog group, says their fitness trend
predictions for 2004 reflect a rising need to meet the demands of time-starved
Americans as well as making exercise part of preventive care for a growing
number of older adults.
Here are their top 10 fitness trend predictions for 2004:
- Workouts and exercise programs will respond to the critical need
for busy Americans to get an efficient workout in a very short period
of time using readily available tools, such as chairs, steps, and
walls, to overcome barriers of time and access.
- Mind and body programs will be blended into traditional workout
sessions. Clubs and personal trainers will integrate elements of Pilates
and yoga into exercise programs to offer a holistic approach to physical
fitness and wellness.
- Functional fitness will become even more important. Rather than
working on muscle groups in isolation, functional fitness will focus
on exercising and strengthening several muscles and joints together
to help people perform their daily activities with less pain and discomfort.
- Lifestyle and performance coaching will become more popular as the
Internet makes these services more affordable.
- Health-care providers and companies will provide and partially subsidize
preventive lifestyle programs, such as providing web sites for wellness
information, risk assessment, fitness calculators, how to contact
a fitness professional, and other services.
- Fitness equipment will get smarter. Manufacturers will offer equipment
that provides feedback on everything from lactic acid production (a
compound released during exercise) to preparing for a major athletic
event like a marathon.
- More fitness clubs will offer pay-as-you-go pricing rather than
long-term contracts.
- Weight loss and nutrition will get back to basics. Millions of Americans
who haven't had long-term success on restrictive weight-loss programs
will turn to regular exercise and sensible eating.
- Exercise will become a larger part of preventive care for older
adults to help fight osteoporosis, reduce the risk of everyday injury,
and maintain independence. Programs will focus on balance, stability,
and strength training in seniors.
- Simple programs to get sedentary people moving will become more
important. States and cities will have more walking programs, and
communities will add sidewalks, walking trails, and parks to make
it easier for people to become physically active.
About ACE
The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's Authority on Fitness,
is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of
physical activity and protecting consumers against unsafe and ineffective
fitness products and instruction. As the nation's "workout watchdog,"
ACE sponsors university-based exercise science research and testing
that targets fitness products and trends. ACE sets standards for fitness
professionals and is the world's largest nonprofit fitness certifying
organization. For more information on ACE and its programs, call (800)
825-3636 or log onto the ACE Web site at www.acefitness.org
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