Evolution of Workout Equipment

By Diara Fowler |Staff Writer|

The equipment in the gym has been around for many years, but the history of its transformation has rarely been discussed.

Hundreds of machines we still use in gyms and homes have been updated or modernized, making workouts safer and convenient.

“Equipment has evolved with the genre we are in,” explained personal trainer Emmanuel Luna.

According to Luna, performance genre training has been gaining popularity as one of the most effective workout regimens.

“I am an active member of the gym culture,” said student Josh Gonzalez.

According to Livestrong, “The ancient Egyptians, Chinese, Indians, and Greeks were credited with creating the very first version of the free form weight around the time frame of the fifth century B.C.”

They would use halters or center bar weights with a hole in the middle so they could grab onto the weight vs. using a handle.

Today our free weights come in a variety of different sizes and contain a bar in the center with the weights on each side.

American fitness guru Jack LaLanne created the following in the ’50s: The Smith machine, leg extension, and the very popular treadmill.

Its main use was for squats, but the machine has undergone a few minor changes from then to now.

The Smith machine has been updated so you no longer need a spotter to help you raise the bar back to its original state before use. It is now safer with a twist of your wrist you will lock the barbell into place.

“The Smith machine and squat rack help with my lower body and bench press or chest press machine help me focus on the chest region of my body,” said Gonzalez.

The leg extension machine was made to target the quadriceps in one’s legs. This machine has grown over a series of years as its seats are now adjustable.

It can also adjust to one’s body weight and height, lining up with the perfect positioning of the pads created to protect your shins as the machine is in use.

The most popular form of cardiovascular equipment even to this very day is the treadmill.

Not originally built for exercise, but instead to help people relieve stress during the 1960’s.

“There are now treadmill designs that will actually let you select a layout or background for your workout to give a more realistic experience,” said Luna

The elliptical was introduced in 1995 by fitness company Precor.

It has the same basic functions and purpose of the treadmill, but it causes less stress on the lower body.

Some of these models may contain a moving upper body component for your arms that correspond to the movement of the legs for a more demanding workout.

The evolution of workout equipment has evolved over many years and will only continue to grow and help us as individuals become stronger and live a healthier lifestyle.