Originally published July 20 2005
Many people trading high-impact workouts for "gentler" exercise, survey says
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The popularity of exercise and fitness activities like yoga, pilates, elliptical-trainer workouts and tai chi -- which many consider to be gentler on the body -- is rapidly rising, while high-impact aerobic activities declined between 1998 and 2004, according to a six-year survey by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association.
Conversely, high-impact aerobics has been declining from 1998 to 2004.
The SGMA presented these findings recently in Los Angeles.
Credit the aging baby-boomer generation for the growth of these activities, said Gregg Hartley, SGMA vice president, who counts himself in that group.
To hear boomers tell it, some are looking to preserve their joints - especially knees and ankles - that have been jarred or stressed during other activities.
The growth of fitness walking is outpacing fitness running, again because more people find walking accessible and gentler to the body.
Not surprisingly, more people are participating in Pilates, another mind-body exercise.
The SGMA started monitoring Pilates in 2000, so statistics for a six-year period were not available.
People also are taking the time to work on strength.
More are using dumbbells and resistance machines than other types of strength-training equipment.
It's probably because dumbbells and resistance machines are more user-friendly.
As for cardio equipment, elliptical-trainer use is skyrocketing, even if treadmills remain overall the most widely used machines across the nation.
Another indicator of the kinder, gentler phenomenon: More people are using the recumbent bike than the upright stationary bike, because sitting on a recumbent is more comfortable.
The cross-country ski machine, the aerobic rider and stair-climber.
Although it provides a good workout without pounding the joints, the cross-country ski machine is probably spending more time gathering dust in the den than burning someone's calories.
While these trends underscore an evolution in fitness, they don't invalidate the activities and machines that are no longer in vogue.
If you've been faithfully exercising on a stair climber or cross-country ski machine, or if you still attend a high-impact aerobics class and are getting a solid workout, stick with it.
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