The gym is becoming increasingly digital and this digital transformation is involving the world of fitness and most likely the facilities where you train. The sports sector was among the first to benefit from sensors connected to the smartphone, but it wasn’t the only one. For example, runners benefitted from a chip in their shoes. Footballers benefited from having a sensor in the ball. For those who play golf, the sensor appeared in their gloves. Keen tennis players saw a sensor in their rackets and so on. So what about those who train indoors, in the gym?
Digital sensors in the gym
The 4.0 gym represents the new era of training. This is achieved through the interconnection of machines, with the acquisition of training data and progress made to develop a constant intelligence of wellness and fitness.
True enthusiasts know that, at a certain level, every sport wants its own specific measuring instrument. Tracing all the forces involved in each individual exercise, from the starting force to the speed, as well as the specific amplitude of the movement, this type of equipment is essential to better analyse their performance. But perhaps not all athletes have stopped to reflect on how many sensors are present in a well-equipped gym and what opportunities these offer to those who train.
Sensors in the environment
Just as many public buildings and private homes increasingly rely on sensors and home automation to make their environments intelligent, gyms are no exception. Starting with the more "classic" sensors applied to the walls that generally detect movement (by automatically turning on lights and sounds in the presence of people), up to the more technological intelligent and interactive floors, connected to a software with which you can configure various functional training programs, which can be performed for example with background music synchronized with the lights. An innovative solution, ideal for monitoring the progress made by people who train indoors, especially suitable for those who do aerobic exercises to music.
Sensors on the body
Strength, speed, power: there are several factors that, in combination, allow you to optimise your workouts based on the results you want to achieve. When it comes to training and performance evaluation, in fact, there are many elements to consider: aerobic resistance, muscle strength etc… A sensor can be connected to the wrist, behind the back (for free weight lifting or for squats), on the arm, on the chest (to measure the heart rate).
There are optical sensors that monitor blood flow, skin sweating and body temperature. Or, in the case of exercises such as bar pulling, the sensor that needs to measure parameters related to uniform vertical movement should be worn at the waist or on the torso.
Sensors on gym machines
In addition to the body, there are more and more sensors integrated in the machines that are used for training. There are those of speed, useful for treadmills, running boards and exercise bikes. With the advent of power meters new concepts have been realised. For example, instead of being based on speed or heart rate, these are now based on the actual force imprinted on the machine. For example, sensors designed to measure pedalling cadence are increasingly used in cycling.
They measure the power of thrust and traction while pedalling, in order to understand the sporting performance of the individual. Moreover, if the sensor is integrated on pedals and mounted on both cranks, it’s possible to highlight the asymmetries between the lower right and left limbs. All these technologies have long been integrated into Technogym's offer, which has always been at the forefront of technology.
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