Vision fitness offers fitness equipment for all ages and sizes.

Multifamily housing fitness facilities must be able to accommodate exercisers of all ages and sizes. By ensuring that your fitness equipment is suitable for larger, older adults, you can be confident that your facility will be comfortable and inviting for all of your residents.

Here are some things to look for:

Ease of entry into the workout position. You want to be sure that the equipment is easy to get on, so look for step-through designs on bikes and for elliptical trainers that have a front drive system, allowing users to simply step up on the pedals from behind. Ellipticals with rear drive systems require users to cross over the pedals from the side, which can be a problem for seniors or individuals with mobility problems. Treadmills should have a low step-up height.

Comfort features and proper ergonomics. How comfortable the user is during their workout will certainly influence their overall experience with your facility. Look for fitness bikes with large, comfortable, contoured seats and lumbar support. You also want a fitness bike that allows numerous adjustments along the seat rail to accommodate both short and tall users. Elliptical trainers should have padded footplates to keep your feet comfortable and your legs from getting too tired. To reduce muscle fatigue and increase comfort, look for treadmills with a variable cushioning system. Handrails are also a nice feature on treadmills for safety purposes. To ensure that users of all sizes have adequate room to mare, look for handrails that are short or flared. If a majority of your residents are elderly, you may want to purchase a treadmill that has medical handrails as an option, which are longer and provide more support.

Weight capacity. To ensure that your fitness equipment will hold up, look for products that have extra-heavy gauge steel frames and are warranted for users up to 400 pounds.

User-friendly controls. To keep users from being intimidated, find equipment with easy-to-use controls and features, such as Quick Keys on treadmills that allow speed and elevation changes with the single touch of a button. Also, look for consoles with large, easy-to-read displays. Remote control grips on bike seat handlebars are convenient and allow for easy program adjustments.

Engaging programming. Offering equipment with unique features and programs helps draw people to your fitness center. An example of unique programming is SPRINT 8, an anaerobic program found exclusively on Vision Fitness products. SPRINT 8 is medically proven to help your body naturally produce human growth hormone (HGH), which comes with a list of incredible benefits for people of all ages and fitness levels.

Vision Fitness, one of the top fitness equipment manufacturers in North America, offers cardio and strength equipment specifically for the multi-housing market. For more information on Vision Fitness and their Commercial products, please visit their Web site at www.visionfitness.com or call Jay White at 800/335-4348, Ext. 14. You can find more information on the SPRINT 8 program there, as well.