A worldwide poll shows what you’re likely to see at gym
The importance of experienced and educated fitness professionals remains the top predicted fitness trend for 2009 for a second straight year, says an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) survey published in ACSM’s Health and Fitness Journal.
“We really wanted to look at trends,” explained Walter Thompson, a professor of Exercise Science at Georgia State University and lead author of the poll. “We instructed the respondents to ignore fads, like the devices you see on late-night TV infomercials.”
Thompson said it was no surprise that experienced fitness professionals and personal trainers captured the first and third spots in the survey.
“The fitness industry has increased exponentially,” Thompson said, but at a price. “There has to be some policing. People are getting hurt by trainers who just don’t have the qualifications.”
Also holding their spots on the list were trends related to children and obesity and personal training, which again ranked second and third, respectively. Thompson said this is indicative of true industry trends, not fads, taking hold. “These developing themes will help health and fitness professionals give the best possible service to the public, and also help the public understand the quality of service they should be receiving as clients.”
THE TOP 10 FITNESS TRENDS PREDICTED FOR 2009 WERE:
1. Educated and experienced fitness professionals. Because of an increase in the number of organisations offering fitness certifications, it’s important that consumers choose certified professionals.
2. Children and obesity. This trend – and designing exercise programmes to reverse it – is high in the minds of fitness professionals not only because of the number of children who are currently overweight and obese, but because these children are more likely to become obese adults.
3. Personal training. Education, training and proper credentialing for health and fitness professionals who act as personal trainers has become increasingly important, and is an integral part of staffing for health and fitness facilities.
4. Strength training. Strength training is an essential part of ACSM’s Physical Activity and Public Health Guidelines. Lifting weights isn’t just for bodybuilders; it’s crucial to maintaining bone mass density with ageing and is used in a variety of rehabilitation settings.
5. Core training. Different from strength training, this type of training emphasises conditioning the back and abdomen muscles and improves spine stability.
6. Special fitness programmes for older adults. With more and more of the baby boomer population reaching retirement age, health and fitness professionals are designing age-appropriate fitness programs to keep older adults healthy and happy well into their golden years.
7. Pilates. Pilates incorporates a great deal of core training, while still strengthening and toning the entire body. Part of its appeal is that many exercises can be done with a simple mat – no extra, expensive equipment required.
8. Stability ball. Because the size of stability balls varies so greatly, many different exercises can be performed with them. It can teach balance and strength in addition to stability.
9. Sport-specific training. This trend distinctly relates to young athletes. High school athletes are incorporating training into their off-seasons in order to stay in top shape for their sports.
10. Balance training. Numerous activities feature balance training, including yoga, foam rollers, BOSU balls, and more.
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