Neuro-muscular fitness gym equipment
As gym design consultants and gym equipment advisors, the emergence of a new breed of tech-savvy, design-conscious neuromuscular training equipment for gyms and hotels has caught our attention. Read on to find out more. about brands such as REAXING, PEDALO and SKILLCOURT.
If you are interested in our insights on sustainable gym equipment see the separate blog post here.
Reaxing neuromuscular training gym equipment
Made In Italy REAXING have an impressive range of neuromuscular training gym equipment on offer, ideally suited to the fields of sports performance, rehabilitation and coordination drills as part of a more general fitness training program.
Depending on which piece of gym equipment is chosen from the range, the user cases here can vary from a home gym, to a commercial or hotel gym setting, physiotherapist studio, medical wellness clinic, even a resort swimming pool or outdoor gym context.
Reax Lights Pro for example provides gym users with a series of lights that illuminate in different colours and intervals for cognitive training, reaction times and stability.
Reax Lift is a new design in barbell technology with water inside the cylindrical shaped 'weights at either end to create an unstable load, requiring countless micro-adjustments, increasing motor responses from the gym user while also of course developing strength in the muscles in use.
Reax 3D Mat is a textured exercise mat that works by stimulating the proprioceptive reflex and developing day-by-day dynamic motor skills by deliberating giving gym users an unstable surface to train on.
The Reax Raft Pro is an inflatable mat for use in pools that recreates a Stand Up Paddle experience, it can also be used for pool yoga or pilates, for example in a hotel or resort context. It is available in both indoor and outdoor pool variations.
Skillcourt brain training gym equipment
German newcomer Skillcourt offer a new take on combining cardio, movement and brain training in one thanks to their screen-based, interactive exercise concept.
The markings visible in the court above allow a user to watch the screen, mentally process the instructions they receive visually from that source, and then respond accordingly with a physical movement using the floor markings to guide them.
Clearly one of the main uses here is likely to be high-performance athletes and pro sports clubs or but that is not to neglect the opportunities for rehabilitation training in physiotherapy studios, or indeed school learning environments to help children develop their cognitive response times whilst moving, playing and staying active in between study sessions, for example.
Training options can vary the speed, intensity and challenge level, pushing a user to use their agility, responsiveness and mind-body connections.
Benefits include improvements in both linear and multidirectional speed, i.e. being able to change direction, use explosive plyometric movements on occasion, increase dexterity, reduce response time and generally up one’s athleticism.
Is this a replacement for a cardio session or strength workout in the gym, absolutely not, it would even come after stretching and mobility in terms of priorities but once the basics of cardio endurance, upper and lower strength, as well as mobility are in place, anyone with aspirations for sports performance, or simply for a fun alternative methodology to compliment their otherwise linear, repetitive training regime, the Skillcourt is a valuable addition to any weekly fitness routine!
Pedalo recovery and rehabilitation gym equipment
German gym equipment brand Pedalo take a very different approach to neuromuscular training from the previous two examples, we’d call it comparatively ‘old school’ and their products are all the more worthy of our attention for that reason.
No-tech, mostly made from plywood and intuitive to use, these are classics of physiotherapy studios, sports rehab centres and larger gyms with a dedicated stretching, mobility and neuromuscular training area for balance, motor skills training and coordination.
The ease of use credentials here makes Pedalo products perfectly adapted to home gym use, or indeed commercial gyms, with accessible prices too. What may be missing for many people is the know-how of what to do, how to use the equipment in order to gain maximum benefit not just in the short-term but over the months, and years to follow.
A lot of the benefits on offer here are around strengthening of joints, fascia and ligaments as a way to protect against future injury, a concept known as ‘prehabilitation’ not just as part of a recovery process after an injury.
For gaining strength or improving endurance, other types of equipment will be more useful clearly but these products have a place in any serious gym or health club stretching area in our opinion!