Electronic playground: The future of fitness?
By Jeff Pikulsky
VALLEY INDEPENDENT
Monday, September 11, 2006
CARROLL TOWNSHIP -- Staff at the Mon Valley YMCA are hoping to make lean machines out of local youngsters by using the same technology that has transformed them into couch potatoes.
Set to open Oct. 14, a new, key part of the YMCA's program to fight childhood obesity is a "virtual gym" that will be offered thanks to a $49,000 federal grant.
A room in the YMCA building has become a computerized play place that encourages youth to stimulate their bodies and minds with the help of popular video games and a few new electronic challenges.
YMCA Wellness Director Bill Holzapfel said the electronic playground is a look into the future of fitness.
"I would anticipate seeing these in the future in schools," he said. "I think even right now if you go (gyms in) the bigger cities you're going to see a room similar to this."
Holzapfel said obesity has become a progressively serious issue for youngsters.
"I don't think parents are real comfortable with letting their kids outside to play like they used to be. It kind of became a societal trend," he said. "The surgeon general uses the word epidemic with regard to obesity and Type II diabetes and even in the youth population they call it an epidemic, which is kind of scary."
Each station in the "virtual gym" promotes the use of different muscles, for a complete and weight-less aerobic workout.
The Trazer station offers a variety of interactive games that challenge the user to jump, shuffle, dodge or lunge to control a video game player with their motions.
The system reads body position through a sensor worn around the player's waist.
The Trazer is capable of making user accounts that log performance and adjust to the user's progress.
Other terminals work with the popular video game consoles Xbox and Playstation 2.
The hit video game Dance Dance Revolution is in one of the areas.
The game challenges players to step on parts of a pad on beat with music.
One station called Kilowatt requires players to stand up and either push or pull a controller mounted on a pole at chest level. For example, the player would steer a car or boat on the game by twisting, pushing or pulling the controller.
There is also the Cateye Gamebike, which requires the player to pedal the bike to accelerate in racing games. A controller is mounted to the bike.
In the Sportwall section, two, eight-foot walls hold seven light pads that must be struck when they are illuminated to score points.
The game has varying speeds and difficulty levels and players can compete against each other.
Holzapfel said for years he was wanted to integrate interactive equipment into the YMCA's regimen.
He said having goal oriented exercises linked to games will make getting fit more fun and wholesome for the body and mind.
Holzapfel said he is anxious to see the virtual gym in full swing.
A trainer for 18 years, he welcomed a fresh angle on fitness training.
"When you do the same thing for years and years, you look forward to some new challenge, new opportunity," he said. "The market is out there waiting for this."
The versatility of the equipment is unique because it can also be used for rehabilitation and to cross train athletes, Holzapfel said
He said using popular video games in the program is a benefit because children will be encouraged to play their favorite games with health benefits.
Although the virtual gym will mainly be used by middle school-aged children, it will be open to YMCA members of all ages.
YMCA Executive Director Ken Wiltz said a recent open house held for the virtual gym was a success.
"This is a pretty neat concept," he said. "Everybody is talking about childhood obesity and the problem that it's growing. We thought this would be a perfect way to have a facility where we can begin fighting that. They've got to start to change their lifestyles.
"We want to try some control groups and hopefully work with all of our local school districts."
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