Total Gym Jump Trainer
No, thats not Chuck Norris demoing jump squats on the Total Gym that’s my client Stu. Hip extension and plantar flexion strength and power are both significant predictors of both self-selected and maximal walking speed in aging adults. Adults with slower walking speeds tend to voluntarily participate in physical activity less than their speedier counterparts and are at a higher risk for accidental falls as they get older. With this in mind it’s important to continue tying to train for lower body strength and power as we age. However, this can get tricky because while our need for power grows as we age so does our chance for injury. Jump squats on the total gym shown above are a great option to train lower body power with low risk for injury.
We acquired this awesome Total Gym Jump Trainer last year and I find myself using it almost every single day with my clients. Similar to the MVP Shuttle the Total Gym allows for power training minus the impact on landing, making it a great option for injured athletes or those who simply don’t tolerate impact well. I find the Total Gym gym to be more user friendly and easier to adjust than the MVP Shuttle. I also like that it allows you to vary the incline rather than staying at a single angle.
Although this isn’t a cheap piece of equipment I think it would be a good investment for gym owners who specialize in older populations or athletic rehabilitation. Some alternative low risk, lower body power options I also like are…
– Skipping
– High Knee Run
– Ladder Drills
– Low Amplitude Lateral Bound and Stick
– Fast Sled March
– Med Ball Squat and Throw