2004's Best Fitness Trends

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Outside Magazine June 2004

Bodywork: Fitness Report 2004
Survey Says! (cont.)


	Great Directions: Body Map, your atlas for fine-tuning form. (Gregg Segal)

AGGRESSIVE POSTURE
THE TREND >> To take the guesswork out of CORRECTING MUSCLE IMIBALANCES, gym-goers can now turn to Body Map's software system to identify them. "It's an assessment tool that looks at dynamic postural movement," says Tyler Wallace, director of clinical services for the Calabasas, California–based National Academy of Sports Medicine, which developed the software. How does it work? An athlete does five body-weight squats and five one-legged squats as a digital camera snaps the exercise from a different angle each time. A trainer then uploads the photos to a laptop, and the software compares the client's form with the ideal movement pattern. The computer then spits out a seven-page assessment based on the differences, and a customized set of stretches and exercises to fix the problem area—be it weak glutes or a strained lower back.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU >> By quickly identifying and correcting any structural weaknesses, you'll achieve better posture, skeletal alignment, and stability, reducing your chances of injury while dialing in your performance.

GET STARTED >> Log on to www.nasm.org, to find a club or trainer in your area that offers Body Mapping. The cost is roughly $250 per session.

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