Nefitco.com News and Views

exervo™ PE2 Foam Roller 2007 Product of the Year

2007-10-02T09:39:00.001-04:00

Hal Lier, Nefitco.com

I was first introduced to foam rollers about 10 years ago when I participated in a cross-training class run by Todd Miller MA, PT, ATC of Putney, Vermont. We used them as a balance training tool trying, for example, to roll the 3' foam roller across the room while standing on it. I thought at the time the applications for the foam roller were limited. Little did I know the foam roller would become our most popular fitness accessory in 2007. Today, foam rollers are used for balance training, massage therapy, back care and pilates training and core conditioning. Early on in the process of sourcing a manufacturer of foam rollers we learned much about what makes a quality foam product. We also learned there's a big difference between 3' white foam tubes used for packaging and precision manufactured foam.

Our white exervo™ PE2 Foam Roller is a popular choice of physical therapists, pilates instructors, chiropractors and individuals. The foam exhibits a highly uniform cell structure which means the roller is uniformly round with consistent firmness throughout. The PE2 Foam Roller is one of our top selling products and has been selected as our 2007 Product of the Year.

We would like to thank our U.S. based PE2 foam manufacturer for their fine work in providing our company over the last 5 years with what we believe is the finest white foam roller available.

Whole Body Vibration - Next Big Thing, or Not?

2006-12-09T10:49:00.000-05:00

Whole Body Vibration (WBV) is a new trend in health and fitness equipment. The user typically stands on a platform which vibrates at the selected frequency. Manufacturers of these machines claim to "improve circulation, strength, flexibility and balance" and "substantially improves muscle strength, performance and flexibility".

Let me first say I'm not an exercise physiologist nor an expert in whole body vibration but I can share with you my experience with a few WBV machines and tell you after 18 years in the fitness equipment business I'm skeptical of the claims the WBV equipment camp is making. When I first learned about WBV a few years ago I was very excited about their potential to improve fitness and well-being. This year I've tried out a prototype and 2 WBV machines currently in production. After the first use I felt nauseous for the next two days. I sensed a disorientation similar to the motion sickness feeling I had going deep sea fishing off of the coast of Massachusetts as a youth. I asked one of our managers to try the machine out as well and he experienced similar results so I knew it wasn't just me. I then headed to the internet to do a bit of research.

Google results for the keyword phrase "whole body vibration" produces articles and websites extolling the benefits of WBV but there's a whole other body of evidence based on years of scientific research indicating negative health effects from WBV. There is an industry built around the need to eliminate WBV from buildings, workplaces, aerospace and vehicles. Here's just one quote from Professor Alan Hedge of Cornell University: "Whole body vibration may create chronic stresses and sometimes even permanent damage to the affected organs or body parts." And this quote as well that I find particularly interesting: "Individual body members and organs have their own resonant frequencies and do not vibrate as a single mass with its own natural frequency."

The point of this article is to raise a red flag and point out the contrary information. Please read these articles and information from other authority sites you may find on the web before deciding if WBV is right for you. I also ask the manufacturers of WBV equipment certify there are no known side affects to humans using their products.

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Whole-body Vibration

Whole Body Vibraton

Research Network on Detection and Prevention of Injuries due to Occupational Vibration Exposures

Hal Lier
Nefitco.com

Nefitco.com Announces 2006 Product of the Year

2006-12-09T10:01:00.000-05:00

Nefitco.com's 2006 Product of the Year

Every year about this time we sit back and review the products in our catalog to determine which product is named our Product of the Year. For 2006 the clear choice is not a single product but a family of products from Ironwear Fitness. Ironwear Fitness is the designer of the Ironwear Uni-vest Weight Vest, Hand Irons Hand Weights, UnderVests and Uni-Vest Weight Pants. Common to all these products is the patented FlexMetal® weight. FlexMetal® is a proprietary blend of rubber and metal that form a pliable, flexible weighted material. With these properties the FlexMetal® weight can be molded into an ergonomic shape in the case of the Hand Irons or used as a flat weight that molds to the contours of the user's body as used in the Ironwear FlexMetal® Weight Vest.

The driving force behind these outstanding designs is inventor Arnold Cook. Arnold is a brilliant font of ideas and inventions whether it's products for the aerospace, medical or sporting goods industry. A day with Arnold is not a day to discuss business but time to design, brainstorm and gather feedback about existing and new products. Cook has a wealth of technical design experience and a sketchbook full of new ideas for the fitness industry so we expect more new products over the years from Ironwear Fitness.

Congratulations to Arnold, Garrett and the rest of the Ironwear Fitness team for being named Nefitco.com's 2006 Product of the Year!

New Sonella Exercise Mats Make a Difference

2006-08-30T08:41:00.000-04:00

Changing the way you think about your pilates and exercise mat

Superb durability, remarkable performance and non-toxic. Sonella mats from exervo™ are made with high-performance thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). This TPE is hygienic, durable, odor-free and non-toxic. It's an ideal material for pilates and exercise mats. TPE is lightweight, soft and warm to the touch and strong. It offers a perfect level of cushioning and stability.

Sonella mats are free of chemicals used in many foam mats. Our mats are free of toluene, PVC , phthalates, acrylonitrile and latex. Toluene is a toxic chemical used in the production of many foams. Phthalate (THAL-ate), a chemical used as a softener for PVC material, is causing serious health concerns in both Europe and North America. Acrylonitrile is a hazardous chemical used in the production of NBR (acrylonitrile butadiene rubber) foam mats.

Toyota, Mercedes and others are removing much of the thermoset foam and soft plastics from the interior of their cars and replacing it with TPE. (What's that new car smell or the film on your windshield? It's chemicals gassing-off into your enclosed space.) This is an environmental quality and health issue that is changing auto manufacturing resulting in environmentally safer or "greener" cars.

World class performance and durability. Whether it's in the studio, health club, YMCA or home exervo™ Sonella mats outperform. They're long lasting and withstand day-to-day use under the harshest conditions. Sonella mats provide a resilient, cushioned platform comfortably supporting the vertical and lateral loads of a pilates or exercise stance. TPE provides excellent traction dry or wet. Our Sonella mat stays perfectly flat on the flooor. This mat will not curl on the edges, become dry and brittle or fade.

The Sonella mat design includes an anti-slip pattern on the bottom surface. In pilates, yoga or general exercise a sure foot plant helps maintain balance, control and stability. Sonella TPE naturally offers excellent traction. This characteristic combined with a top surface horzontal pattern and bottom surface anti-skid grip pattern makes all your foot and hand plants solid, safe and secure.

Sonella mat properties are impressive and well suited for commercial, institutional or home applications:

abrasion resistant	acid resistant	alcohol resistant	anti-static
chemical resistant	high density	high elasticity	flame resistant
fungus resistant	puncture resistant	weather resistant	grease resistant
heat resistant	no heavy metals	moisture resistant	odor- low to none
oil resistant	oxidization resistant	solvent resistant	tear strength-high
traction-excellent	UV resistant	warm, soft feel	commercial rated

A new mat that's safer for you and better for the planet. The TPE used in manufacturing Sonella mats is recyclable. This material can be reformed into new products reducing the waste stream. We are committed to offering better products that are safer for you and the environment.

S P E C I F I C A T I O N S

Dimensions: 23.5" wide x 72" long
Thickness: 1/2" (12mm)
Top Surface: horizontal traction lines
Bottom Surface:anti-slip grip pattern
Colors: blue, green, black
Guaranty: Guaranteed for 1 year under normal use in home, institutional or commercial settings.

For more information or to order: Sonella Exercise Mats