In gymnastics and tumbling much apparatus is used and usually the body is "moved about the apparatus," thus involving skills and abilities that make it a difficult program for most of us. In the training of athletes for "contact" sports many kinds of apparatus are used according to the needs of the sport. These furnish resistance so that the athlete will develop more strength for his particular needs.
There are many special pieces of apparatus marketed to the general public which are expected to aid him in his conditioning efforts. The exercycle, the Exerow, various types of rowing machines, bicycles, slant boards, oscillating tables, vibrating machines, rollers, etc., are some of the most advertised. Some of these have merit for some specific uses for which they fulfil a need.
Some are unable to give the results as advertised because too much is claimed for them. It has been said that exercise in which the individual exerts himself is old fashioned and unnecessary. The "modern" way is to lie down and relax and let the machinery do the work for you. The body itself with its anatomy and physiology is old fashioned. The principle that it must have effort to live and be healthy has not changed and no machinery has been invented or will be invented so that our effort for fitness can be done for us.
The best type of exercise that meets all the requirements is the progressive resistance application through the use of adjustable weights. The weights most convenient to use are the adjustable bar bell and dumb bells.
Forty years ago, these were used only to make weight lifters or strong men for the stage and their use was subject to much unfavorable criticism. Gradually, the athlete came to find that if he wanted to become stronger, the use of the weights would help him as nothing else could. He learned to adapt the exercise with weights in such a way as to be of help for his particular sport. Physical therapy investigated exercise with weights, hoping to speed up recovery periods and to aid the body in restoring various functions to normal. The results have led to extensive use of weight resistance exercise in physical therapy.*
*DeLorme, Thomas L., M.D. and Watkins, Arthur L., M.D.: Progressive Resistance Exercise, Technique and Medical Application. Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc., New York.
The motions used with bar bells and dumb bells are natural body motions requiring little, if any, skill or learning.
The exercise is perfectly adaptable to all muscle groups whether for improvement in mechanics or physiology. It is completely adaptable to the needs of each individual regardless of age or physical condition. It can be measured and increased according to each individual's ability to respond to training. It requires only fifteen to thirty minutes of exercise only three times each week. It will show improvement in body mechanics and physical fitness far beyond that produced by any other form of training in a comparable length of time.
In addition, it is also a kind of exercise that can be continued with benefit throughout the entire lifetime.
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