Fitness

The Fun Theory: Treadmill race track, piano stairs, and more

When I first started rock climbing two years ago, I wanted to tell everyone about it. It was the first time in my life I looked forward to going to the gym, and I still do, which is probably why I am in even better shape than when I was a varsity swimmer in high school, which was in many ways a hellish hobby that I mostly dreaded.

My experience is exactly what a new Web project, The Fun Theory, is exploring: if you find something that is fun to do, you're far more likely to do it, and … Read more

Why crutches may soon be relics of the past

Anyone who's ever worn crutches knows they are a pain at best. It's bad enough trying to walk, let alone surviving stairs, and we haven't even gotten to the underarm chafing.

Forward Mobility to the rescue. The Edmonds, Wash.-based company, which got its start manufacturing bicycles in the 1990s, is now designing and manufacturing a slew of medical mobility products, from a collapsible wheelchair to a seated scooter for foot and leg injuries. The Freedom Leg, released at MedTrade in October, functions like a hands-free brace. In the company's words:

Go beyond the limitations of crutches, wheelchairs, or scooters. It is truly an off-loading prosthetic that allows the user to fully integrate the device into their lives, giving them complete mobility. The user has the ability to accomplish all their normal day-to-day tasks without assistance, while at the same time keeping the strength in upper muscles of the injured leg.

According to "Emma" in the video, who broke her foot, the Freedom Leg transfers the weight of her step to her upper leg,… Read more

Want to steer clear of H1N1? Get off the couch

When my husband came down with H1N1 a few weeks back, I was certain I'd get it. As he sweat through a fever that climbed to almost 104 degrees, I took care of him, slept 10 hours a night, and didn't leave the house so as not to spread the virus. And yet the only fever I felt was of the cabin variety.

I thought I'd somehow avoided the highly contagious strain of influenza, but new research indicates that, thanks to my daily habit of biking and/or climbing, I may have gotten away with a barely … Read more

TrekDesk hits the market, exhausts our soles

The TrekDesk press release is packed with all sorts of alarming statistics about adult obesity, as well as alluring statistics about the benefits of walking. The combination is designed to make you want one, and want one now, in spite of the product's $479-sans-treadmill price tag.

Why go for a lovely walk outside, or exercise on an ordinary treadmill inside, when you can walk at your desk--without even sweating? It is "Easy to Do" and "Requires No Extra Effort." (The All Caps mean they Really Mean It.)

TrekDesk is by no means the first attempt … Read more

Fitbit measures everything from sleep to sex

Amount of steps you took today: 3,451. Miles traveled: 1.4. Calories burned: 348. Calories consumed: 625. Then you went to bed at 12:05 a.m. Time to fall asleep: 23 minutes. Times awakened: 25. You were in bed for 8 hours 2 minutes. Actual sleep time: 7 hours 42 minutes.

The math is easy, sure. But never before has a device tracked so many aspects of an individual's physical movements to measure overall wellness. From caloric intake to activity levels (sedentary, lightly active, fairly active, and very active), Fitbit clips onto clothing or straps around one'… Read more

IMEC unveils heart monitor for athletes, elderly

Mobile heart monitoring devices have tended to suffer from inaccuracies due to the nature of being, well, mobile; they've always had trouble dealing with inputs such as high-level noises and abrupt movements. The electrocardiogram, or ECG, necklace unveiled by Belgium-based IMEC at the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference in Minneapolis Wednesday boasts long-term monitoring of cardiac performance with astonishing accuracy.

The necklace contains IMEC's proprietary "ultra-low power analog readout ASIC" (application-specific integrated circuit), relying on a low-power commercial radio/microprocessor platform. A heartbeat detection algorithm is embedded in that processor, and a second ultra-low … Read more

Rotating iPod case can spin speakers too

On the rare occasions that our bosses let us leave the desk and visit the gym, some of us at Crave have found that rotating cases for the iPod come in surprisingly handy for their flexibility. And apparently we're not alone, because others are coming up with new 360-degree designs all the time.

The latest example not only rotates the case, but has built-in speakers that can be spun around too. The two tiny speakers can be exposed on either side of a classic or fifth-generation iPod, then twisted behind the player in a hidden position, according to Popgadget. … Read more