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An Alternate Fitness Tool
Any competitive or recreational athlete will use a variety of cross-training methods or tools to complement their particular sport or to meet their fitness needs. One such tool that is becoming increasing popular is the Kickbike. The Kickbike is a high end adult version of a scooter. Although new to North America, the Kickbike has been around for about 20 years in Europe and the Netherlands where national and international Eurocups are held yearly establishing national and world records for distances ranging from 200m to 30km. How does one train on a Kickbike? The Kickbike is propelled forward by kicking back as you would on any scooter. The only new skill needed is learning how to switch kicking legs. There are two techniques that can be used for switching kicking legs. One is called the "Heel Roll" and the second the "Hop- Step" technique. How often you switch kicking legs is dependant on the person but usually a cadence of 3 to 10 kicks before you switch is normal. When attacking hills your cadence will increase. When descending hills you are best to just stop kicking and enjoy the ride. For those who would like to see both techniques you are invited to visit Kickbike Ontario's website at www.kickbikeontario.ca were a short 36 second video clip is available. What muscle groups are utilized? Training on a Kickbike utilizes the large muscle groups that are used in running as well as cycling. When riding a Kickbike the standing or support leg uses primarily the quadricep and lower leg muscles, (tibialis, gastrocnemius, (calf), and soleus). Most of the load while riding is handled by this support leg which is constantly flexing thoughout the kicking cycle. The kicking leg itself makes use of a pendulum type of kickback beginning at the hip which draws in the glutes, hamstring and calf muscle groups. As the kicking leg is brought forward and up the abdominals come into play. With a little practice a pushing motion can be added with the arms that will involve the pecs and forearm muscles. Who will benefit from using a Kickbike? The Kickbike can be used by those who are interested in light exercise while cruising the harbor front or bike paths though out the city or as a means of commuting to work. The Kickbike can also be used by those who have a more intense interest in cardio fitness and would like to avoid the high impact nature of running. Because it is low impact the Kickbike has become a popular tool with those mature athletes who have had to give up running due to knee or hip problems. The Kickbike is very light weight at 13 kg. making it ideal for just about any age group from 10 to 60 years of age. When you factor in the cardio and its low impact nature along with the utilization of the muscle groups discussed above the Kickbike is an excellent cross-training tool for any walker, runner, cyclist or for those who are recuperating from an injury. It is truly a fun and unique way to exercise.
MORE RESOURCES: HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Obese people are not only
at greater risk for fibromyalgia, they are likely to experience more
severe symptoms of the condition, such as chronic pain, fatigue, sleep
disturbance and mood disorders, according to a new study. HealthDay - TUESDAY, Feb. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Getting and staying
physically fit might help fend off heart disease even if you've put on a
few pounds, new research suggests. Reuters - Programs that teach parenting skills early on may help prevent obesity in poor U.S. kids, a study published Monday suggests. ContributorNetwork - A study published in the February issue of Pediatrics shows family intervention aimed at improving parenting skills reduced behavior problems in kids and obesity and associated health problems. One-third of Americans, including children ages 2 to 17, are overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics. Here are details about parent-child interventions. Reuters - Orexigen Therapeutics Inc said it reached an agreement with U.S. health regulators on the design of a heart-safety trial required for the approval of its experimental obesity drug. AP - A southeastern Indiana woman has been charged after prosecutors say she left her morbidly obese sister alive and decomposing in a chair for three weeks. LiveScience.com - We've heard obesity can be "spread" between friends when we copy each other's eating habits, but a new study in mice suggests obesity could actually be infectious. ContributorNetwork - "A coming epidemic" is how pediatric cardiologists are describing the impending problems from high rates of juvenile obesity, reports The Missourian. Here are details for parents about overweight kids, heart disease and other concomitant health issues. Reuters - An FDA advisory committee will meet in the second quarter to discuss Arena Pharmaceutical Inc's experimental obesity drug following the company's recent resubmission of an application seeking its approval, Arena said on Wednesday. ContributorNetwork - COMMENTARY | According to HLN, the newest and most vocal critics of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's anti-obesity ad campaign are a group known as "mommy bloggers." These angry mothers feel the controversial ads, which depict obese children as unhappy and suffering from medical maladies, do more harm than good by shaming children instead of encouraging them. Critics argue that shaming tactics only lead to greater tendencies to overeat and can lead to higher numbers of eating disorders. HealthDay - TUESDAY, Jan. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Women who are both overweight and
smoke during pregnancy could damage their baby's developing heart, a new
study warns. Reuters - Overweight women with diabetes may be able to cut their risk of urine leakage if they shed some pounds, a new study suggests. Reuters - Alison Sweeney, host of the NBC network's weight loss TV series "The Biggest Loser," has worked with the show's contestants since 2007, supporting them as they drop pounds and learn to lead a healthier way of life. Reuters - People trying to lose weight may swear by specific diet plans calling for strict proportions of fat, carbs and protein, but where the calories come from may not matter as much as simply cutting back on them, according to a study. HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Nurses who work long hours
and have less physically demanding jobs are much more likely to be obese
than other nurses, according to a new study. Reuters - Device manufacturers are pushing the government and health insurers to cover weight-loss surgery, an effort that could give millions more obese Americans access to the treatments. ContributorNetwork - The key to combating juvenile obesity lies with parents, the American Heart Association says. The AHA released a scientific statement in its most recent issue of "Circulation" journal. Here are tips for parents to curb weight problems in kids, based on that report. HealthDay - MONDAY, Jan. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Weight loss and malnutrition are
among the medical conditions that increase treatment costs and the length
of hospital stays for older adults with hip fractures, a new study
finds. HealthDay - MONDAY, Jan. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Parents and caregivers should
be involved in treatment programs for obese children and should lead by
example, praise children's progress and use setbacks as learning
opportunities, experts say. Reuters - Overweight girls in their late teens were twice as likely as their normal-weight peers to report having a lot of acne in a large new survey of Norwegian teenagers that did not find the same link in boys. |
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