Now, with a new, mobile, pocket PC-based device, you can have a comprehensive, in-depth fitness assessment in just three to four minutes! This breakthrough method of assessment has been scientifically proven to evaluate fitness with precision that no other method can offer. The test can be performed virtually anytime, anywhere – the client simply needs to be able to change position from lying to standing. This simple maneuver triggers a multitude of physiological responses, and by analyzing those responses, you can get a precise and reliable evaluation of fitness – translated into a Fitness Score.
Comprehensive Fitness Assessment
The fitness evaluation performed by this device is based on analysis of variations of a client’s heart rate, or Heart Rate Variability, which is measured by a Polar chest strap that the client wears during the test. Numerous research studies have proven that Heart Rate Variability is an excellent indicator of physical fitness. And, the method of this new high-tech, mobile device has been validated with excellent results, by a study at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, to reliably perform a quantitative fitness assessment. The system is the result of more than 25 years of extensive research and was initially developed for military applications to test the fitness levels of pilots, divers, submarine personnel, and other navy and air forces. The method has proven to be so effective that it was adjusted to a wider scope of application. The new device is suitable for any fitness facility, and it can be useful for a broad range of clients – from top athletes, to the sick, to the elderly. This device is the first in the world to provide a system for a quantitative assessment of fitness level based on Heart Rate Variability, and it offers an inexpensive, elegant and compact solution for fitness assessment. Additionally, while the most popular testing method for many of your club members will be the three- to four-minute fitness test, there is also an option for a longer, more comprehensive test on a treadmill or a bike.
The Fitness Score
The Fitness Score is composed of a quantitative evaluation of two components that define fitness: Wellness and Adaptability. The system distinguishes 13 levels of Wellness and seven levels of Adaptability.
• Wellness is a component of fitness that reflects how well one’s body functions as a whole system. The wellness level is an indicator of general well-being, and may vary in response to stress and changes in lifestyle. Heart Rate Variability reflects functional integrity of the body, and it is an excellent indicator of the wellness level. Different wellness levels produce different, specific patterns of variability in heart rate which are analyzed by the device, and result in a corresponding fitness score. A well-planned exercise program can help your clients to achieve their optimal wellness level.
• Adaptability is the measure of efficiency of a cardiovascular system in response to physical activity. This component of fitness shows the ability of the heart and the rest of circulatory system to adapt to physical loads. The “stronger” one’s cardiovascular system, the higher their level of adaptability. This constituent of fitness can significantly improve with the right exercise program and the proper diet.
These two components of fitness are complementary, yet essentially different, and they do not directly depend on each other. A person with low ability to adapt to physical loads may still be able to efficiently manage stress, in general. This combination would correspond to a low level of adaptability and a high level of wellness. However, in the majority of cases, these two aspects of fitness show significant correlation, and higher levels of adaptability correspond to higher wellness levels, thus indicting higher overall fitness.
If a client is not at his or her top performance level, an effective, well-designed exercise program with a personal trainer will result in a noticeable increase in the level of adaptability, and if combined with the healthy lifestyle, in an improved wellness level, too.
Motivating your clients to commit
Most likely, you have already raised the question of how to motivate clients to commit. Attracting new clients and making them regular members is the main challenge that all fitness facilities now face. There is an effective solution available to your club. The advantages of a new device that will provide comprehensive, in-depth fitness assessments for your clients include:
1. It’s an excellent marketing tool, and a highly effective way to bring in new clients because it is one of the few tools that really impress today’s educated customers. By demonstrating that your club provides the most advanced, customized, fitness solutions for your members, you can really stand out among other facilities.
2. It’s a powerful tool for optimizing any fitness program because it provides objective and immediate quantitative feedback in the form of your client’s fitness score. Testing is usually performed on initial assessment and then throughout the program to monitor progress and to identify the most effective fitness methods for each client.
3. Access to a precise, objective fitness score encourages each of your clients to strive for better results, and they rely on the system’s feedback for measuring progress. Thus, it becomes a highly effective method to motivate your existing clients to commit to a personal trainer, to a fitness program, and, of course, to your fitness facility!
For more information on this powerful fitness solution, visit www.nervexpress.com.
Alexander Riftine, PhD is the President of Heart Rhythm Instruments, Inc. He can be contacted at 732.635.9100, or by email at info@hrinstruments.com.
