I just spent four days in Las Vegas at the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) Entrepreneur Expo and did I receive a reconfirming message from most of the gym owners that I spoke with as well as the companies displaying their products or services…It’s all about the women. From women’s weight issues to women’s bone density, the message was clear…It’s time to focus on the women.
While I was in “Lost Wages,” I had a lengthy discussion with a group of women from California, they each owned a women’s specific fitness facility and they had a lot to say about the state of women’s health in America. While heart disease is the number one killer of women, Osteoporosis or Osteopenia (very low bone density) is giving heart disease a run for the number one health concern. While Osteoporosis and Osteopenia do not kill women, they do debilitate and can render a person non-ambulatory, confined to a wheelchair, or worse, their bed. I also think you should know names of other conditions directly related to Osteoporosis and Osteopenia. First, Kyphosis is an abnormal posterior curvature of the Thoracic spine, a.k.a. Hump or Hunch Back. Secondly, Lordosis is an abnormal anterior curvature of the Lumbar spine, a.k.a. Sway Back. And, finally fractured or broken bones, which are the most popular injuries of Osteoporosis and Osteopenia. To put some numbers to the women with “Osteo,” one out of every two women in America over the age of 50 have an “Osteo” disease and one out of every two women over the age of 30 have below normal bone density. Those are some gigantic numbers to calculate and here is something that makes the situation even more disturbing – most of those women do not even know that they are at risk.
Now that you are armed with this information, the question is what to do with it? How do gym owners use this information to benefit their current membership and create new membership? I feel the first thing you should do is ask yourself these questions:
• Does your current programming pertain to deconditioned women, aging women, or women with below normal bone density?
• Do you offer education to your membership through workshops, special events or propaganda?
• Is there a trainer in your facility with certifications or training in women’s special needs or health issues?
• Is your facility agreeable, pleasing and non-intimidating to women? With positive answers to the questions in hand you are ready to move forward with an educated plan to improve your current female membership and create new female members.
Because, I do not know your facility, staff or how you educate your members, the only question I can help with is programming. And, because I do not know the age variable of the women in your facility, I’m going to be very general with the information. The programming for deconditioned women should be basic with total-body conditioning components. Utilize closed-chain exercises with variations and multi-plane movements with a cardiovascular component. The intensity level can be varied by speed, range of motion and adding some type of resistance mechanisms (i.e. weight vests, resistance bands). I also suggest you offer a beginner and intermediate class with an advanced class to come later.
As for bone density programming, it is far more difficult because of the different levels of bone health. Most bone density protocols suggest weightbearing exercises utilizing a resistance mechanism like a weight vest. The weight vest will vary in weight from four percent of body weight to as much as 10 percent of body weight. All action and motion of the body should be very controlled; there should not be any swinging or jumping, as this may cause additional injuries. Also, when dealing with “Osteo” you will want to have the class on a flat, hard surface to reduce the opportunity for injury.
Now, back to the weight vest and bone density rehabilitation protocols. Weight vests and bone density rehabilitation have been linked since 1982 in studies by Dr. George Salem at the University of Southern California (USC) and in other studies. Please understand that weight vests are the only way to safely weight the body due to the fact that the weight does not place a weight load on any single joint. And, a weight vest is secured to the torso giving the “core” a workout due to proprioception. Proprioception is “the process by which the body can vary muscle contraction in immediate response to incoming information regarding external forces, and by utilizing stretch receptors in the muscles to keep track of the joint position in the body.” Consider the load capabilities when utilizing wrist, hand or ankle weights and the length of the class you will be offering…not very compatible.
In closing I thought this information would be very helpful in growing your business and improving your club’s services. Today, and in the future, it’s all about the women. Are you and your facility ready to deal with it?
George Morrison is the Developer of the Xvest and a Strength & Conditioning Coach. He can be contacted at 800.697.5658, or by email at gmorrison@thexvest.com.
