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The Quadmill focuses on building strength and endurance of the lower body using eccentric muscle conditioning, as opposed to concentric conditioning. A concentric contraction is when the muscle is shortening against resistance; an eccentric contraction occurs while the muscle is lengthening against resistance. Studies have shown that eccentric exercise benefits “spill over” to concentric strength, but that the reverse unfortunately doesn’t occur. This is why it’s so important to make eccentric conditioning as an important part of your
workout.
Although there are cardiovascular benefits to all exercise, this is not an aerobic “cardio” workout… it is an anaerobic strength and conditioning one. The Quadmill is tremendous for sports that require shock-absorbing strength and endurance, as well as being an excellent rehabilitation tool for the lower extremities when coming back from an injury.
Eccentric conditioning of the legs and low back is so important that it is surprising that the need hasn't been met now. Alpine skiing is approximately 85% eccentric work by the lower body, as are the other downhill sports. All running and jumping sports are a combination of concentric and eccentric work by the legs and lower back, depending on whether you are pushing off or are absorbing a landing. The important idea is that if the lower body is eccentrically well-conditioned, it can then smoothly and safely absorb the impact of gravity and velocity imposed upon it by these activities…time after time after time.
Examples of other activities that would benefit from the use of the Quadmill:
- Basketball
- Volleyball
- Football
- Cross-country running
- Mountain biking
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Motocross
- Equitation
- Skating and hockey
- Surfing and windsurfing
- Snowboarding
- Hiking (downhill)
When injuries do occur, we see the Quadmill as a premier rehabilitation tool for the lower body. It is not just low-impact. it is no-impact. The linear tracking motion that is produced in the hips, knees, and ankles places no stress upon collateral structures. With complete control of the machine's speed and duration settings, it can be used safely in the middle and later stages of rehabilitation of the lower extremities. And with its gentle, rhythmic exercise of the lumbar and gluteal muscles, the Quadmill can help mobilize people with chronic low back pain.
The program always starts at the easiest, one-minute level. Pushing the select button moves to the next higher level through the four preprogrammed levels. The fifth level is manual, which changes to any higher or lower intensity level for any duration.
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B e n e f i t s
C a s c a d e F i t n e s s T e c h n o l o g i e s I n c.
