Fitness for Everyone

Fitness for Everyone

1. Ryan Eder

Abstract

When visiting a public fitness center, take a look around. Notice that there are not many individuals with disabilities. There is also an absence of geriatrics and wounded war veterans. Why is this? Many misinformed individuals would attribute this to a lack of physical ability from these demographics. This simply is not the case. These demographics are not in our public fitness centers because proper accessible fitness equipment is not provided.

In 2006, a student from The University of Cincinnati developed a product to provide fitness equipment for ALL users, regardless of their physical abilities. The intent was to provide a concept that could eliminate the segregation in public fitness centers and finally provide fitness for everyone. The end result of this ten-week project, titled "The Access," has since gained international acclaim. In 2007, it was recognized with an IDEA Gold, IDEA Best in Show, and IDEA People's Choice Award.
This paper dives into the inspiration, development and results of the effort to solve this injustice. It will explore immersive research techniques, incorporation of Universal Design, and a dedication to the end user leading to the success of this concept and a passion for Inclusive Design.

Keywords

Inclusive Design, Universal Design, Immersive Research, User-Centered Design

Observing a Problem

Five years ago, an injustice was witnessed that sparked the entire project. In a local fitness center, a man in a wheelchair exited an elevator and entered the gym floor. With knowledge of the existing equipment provided, it was intriguing to observe how this man would adapt to the current equipment line. The results of this observation were rather disturbing. This man had a bag full of homemade accessories attached to the back of his wheelchair. Numerous grip extensions and custom accessories were in this bag to help assist in adjusting to the equipment. For the hour and a half he was there, he spent more time transferring in and out of his wheelchair and adjusting to the equipment, than actually performing his exercises. His frustrations could be seen from across the gym. It was apparent that there was an issue with the design of the equipment and a better solution needed to be developed.
That event still had relevance several years later. Three years after the observation, there was an opportunity to address this problem and provide a solution. This would be the topic of a senior thesis at the University of Cincinnati. The project timeline was only ten weeks. With a tight time budget, the most important part of the design process was obtaining knowledge of a completely unknown world and lifestyle. Brief initial research was conducted to determine the market this product would potentially live. Online searches were performed to find existing equipment that claims to offer solutions to this very problem, but nothing adequate was found. In order to see if this was a prevailing problem across the country, over two hundred facilities of the five major fitness chains in the country were called. The conversation was staged as a wheelchair user curious to see if their facility was accessible. The results were extremely discouraging. Some answers were even offensive. Owners were often thrown off guard when asked these questions. One owner answered this question with “Do wheelchair users even work out?” The overriding ignorance on the manner was appalling. Many clubs did not even have elevator access. In the end, over 94% of the fitness chains called did not offer any form of accessible equipment.

After this initial study, the feeling of aggravation was overwhelming. It was unfathomable to believe these facilities did not offer anything accessible. One could only imagine the frustrations wheelchair users felt on a daily basis. At this moment, a burning desire to help fix this problem was born.

Immersive Research

When the design process began, it was obvious that remaining in a studio and imagining scenarios would not lead to an appropriate product solution. Deep knowledge and insight of the end user was imperative. The research started with contacting some local wheelchair sports organizations asking for people to discuss their experiences with working out in a wheelchair. Conversations with several recreational athletes would provide details into their typical routine. They would discuss the reasons they would only go to certain fitness centers and their specific struggles with current equipment. (Fig. 1) One man named Brent Harbage told his story in which he has to travel 40 miles to the nearest gym that provided vaguely accessible equipment. These people became an ‘advisory board’ to the project. Numerous iterations of concepts were presented to them on a regular basis. This process would ensure the end deliverable was appropriate for the target demographic.

The Lake Shore foundation, which is a facility that trains US paralympic athletes, was also a huge resource to this research. Many of the athletes interviewed competed in Beijing last year at the Paralympic Games. Some of the players from the US paralympic rugby team were even accessible to meet in person. They had become well known as they were featured in the MTV documentary "Murder Ball." These conversations were invaluable discussing their personal frustrations, routines and desires.

After obtaining this information, it was important to leverage knowledge from an alternative angle. While information from the athletes was valuable, conversations with the trainers revealed an important perspective as well. The trainers spent just as much time interacting with the current equipment line up and adapting them to their clients. This alternative vantage point helped discover potential opportunities that otherwise would have been overlooked.

It was equally, if not more important to speak with the mass majority of wheelchair users who did not regularly exercise. One of the most memorable conversations was with the father of a good friend. He had lost his legs in the Vietnam War, and has been in a wheelchair since. He constantly receives pressure from his family and doctor to exercise and obtain a healthy lifestyle, but has no outlet to exercise on accessible equipment. He fears the thought of people staring at him while struggling to use the equipment in his local fitness center. The struggle became more of an emotional frustration than a physical one. As a designer, these types of insights were invaluable.
While this information was helpful, more was needed. The only way to personally feel these frustrations was to experience them first hand. A wheelchair was rented and many local facilities that claimed to be accessible were visited. (Fig. 2) All the equipment was tested to personally experience these struggles. Frustrations and problems occurred that never would have been able to be anticipated from the design studio.

When arriving on the exercise floor in a wheelchair, all other members were practically just staring at the situation. It seemed to be some sort of entertainment for them. Once enough strength built up to ignore the shifting eyes, the numerous machines were approached. Struggles on all levels were encountered. Grips were placed out of reach. The weight stacks were located in cumbersome areas. Stability was extremely hard to maintain in the wheelchair while performing exercises. Even machines that claimed to be accessible did not accommodate to the various sizes of wheelchairs. After an hour of experimentation, physical and mental exhaustion took place. The struggles were overwhelming. These machines can easily make wheelchair users feel as outcasts and develop a sense of inferiority. It was very belittling and this experience created a stronger sense of compassion for the cause. It was a sample of the emotional mountains these end users have to tackle every day.
There was also an opportunity to join a wheelchair football league. The league was open to all users, able-bodied and wheelchair users alike. This fact alone was interesting. So many places exclude wheelchair users, yet when they have the opportunity to do the same, they open their doors to all. Wheelchair football games occurred on Saturdays for a month. This effort was not to obtain more interviews, but just to experience some of their day-to-day life and gain the most comprehensive insight possible.

Once all of this valuable information was gathered, designing the product seemed rather simple. From this research, an organized storyboard was developed to help identify key problematic areas. This became the backbone structure to the development and provided a simple execution for the rest of the design process.

The Access (Fig. 3)

The User: Everyone

Amidst all of the information gathered from research, one point was clear. The end user did not want a machine designed exclusively for them. The biggest hurdle for someone with a disability is the acceptance from others. If a machine were designed specifically for this demographic, it would only promote the segregation in public fitness centers. Principles of Universal Design needed to be implemented to provide an equal platform. It needed to level the playing field.

The Access was designed to enhance the user’s experience and allow the user to focus on the main goal: fitness. The primary intent is to improve usability for all users. Although designed with a wheelchair user in mind; anyone regardless of size, shape, age, mobility or fitness level, has access to improve his or her health. (Fig. 4) The Access was designed to allow the most limited user, an incomplete quadriplegic, to enjoy a workout independently. Designing for the extreme demographic enables an opportunity to benefit all. If the extreme end user can operate the machine with ease, all others with less severe limitations will follow. Provide fitness for all. Create a machine that is completely unbiased. Eliminate the barriers.

Innovative Engineering

The engineering within The Access provides a level of customization that was previously unavailable in one machine. The configuration enables the grips/handles to travel up and down arms that pivot at the tower. (Fig. 5) By making the grips mobile, users can adjust the machine to any position specific for their body type. This allows the user to achieve and maintain proper form and minimize the risk of injury during a workout. No longer does the user need to accommodate to the size of machine, the machine accommodates to its end user.

Solving Key Problem Areas (Fig. 6)

The main innovation is in the touch points of the machine. Current fitness equipment focuses entirely on the form of the exercise being performed. While this attention is crucial, it often forces the designers to overlook the true interaction between the end user and the machine. Pulling pins, articulating arms, and adjusting seats can all be extremely cumbersome, even for the fittest users.

All of the interactions with The Access have been simplified to their purest form and designed to eliminate the need for dexterity. A common misperception is that when an individual is using a wheelchair, only their legs are affected. This is false. Quadriplegics suffer from limited mobility in all four extremities. Dexterity is often one of the first attributes to be affected. Aside from wheelchair users, people all across the globe suffer from arthritis and struggle operating current machines.

Through research, key problems were identified to address. These problem areas provided opportunity for innovation and became the essence of The Access.

Exercise Transitions

The Problem: Articulating arms are often engaged through the user pulling a pin. These pins require an extreme amount of dexterity and thus can become a struggle.

The Solution: One touch buttons allow the user to engage and disengage the arms for easy articulation. The arms are counterbalanced for a weightless transition between positions. This feature enables the user to seamlessly switch between exercises with limited effort.

Grip Management

The Problem: Dexterity impairment can prevent the user to have the strength to hold onto their grips while performing exercises.

The Solution: Hand cuffs are available to help assist in grip when the users’ dexterity isn’t strong enough. A padded hook is sewn into a traditional cuff. Each cuff includes a sewn fabric loop that enables quadriplegics to easily attach and remove when desired.

Accessory Management

The Problem: A carabineer is an industry standard to attach and remove different grip accessories. These clips require an extreme amount of dexterity and often require two hands to stabilize and attach.

The Solution: The carabineer was replaced with a nearly closed, round hook. When in the neutral state, the hook is stabilized, allowing for one-handed adjustments. Accessories attach with a simple ring.

Weight Transitions

The Problem: In order to change weight resistance, a pin is required to be pulled out from the stack and then placed in the desired weight. These pins are often hard to remove, become misplaced or simply broken.

The Solution: Through electronics, selecting the desired weight is accomplished with a simple push of a button. This eliminates the need for the dexterity required with traditional machines.

Wheelchair Stability

The Problem: When exercising in a wheelchair, the chair has a tendency to tip and become unstable.

The Solution: Two hooks on retractable cords are located in each of the machine's legs. These hooks attach to any part of a wheelchair. Once placed, hit the lock button to prevent wheelchair movement and tipping.

Pad Adjustment

The Problem: Pads are essential for stability and proper form. There are numerous locations and situations where a pad is needed and multiple pads are awkward. Engaging and disengaging a pin currently drive pad adjustments. Once again, someone with limited dexterity struggles.

The Solution: A single pad functions as a lap, chest and back pad. Using electronics, one touch buttons located on each side allow for complete adjustment. One button enables the pad to move forward and backward while the other enables articulation from the base.

Seat Management

The Problem: Fixed seats become a large problem when someone in a wheelchair wants to use a machine. Current solutions put the seat’s removal mechanism in hard to reach areas. All of them use the same pin configuration that once gain, requires a large amount of dexterity. The Solution: A removable seat rolls and locks into the center tower allowing able-bodied usage. To release the locking mechanism and remove the seat, pull on the strap located in the front.

Moving Forward

In 2007, The Access was recognized with three International Design Excellence Awards. It won the gold in the student category, the Best in Show over the entire competition, and was also voted ‘People’s Choice’ in a voting system open to the public for this competition. It has been featured in international publications such as BusinessWeek, Innovation Magazine, Discovery Online, and Wired Magazine. While the industry has shown enthusiasm, the public has expressed the most interest. Numerous thank you notes have been sent as well as requests for purchasing opportunities. This recognition has been a catalyst for the progression of the concept. A patent has been submitted with a plan to pursue bringing Universal Design to the fitness industry. In December 2008, Procter & Gamble became an official sponsor of The Access. With support from the University of Cincinnati, The Access is currently under engineering development to progress to the next stage of development. The success of this project is an example of the growing acceptance of Universal Design within the product development industry. As future products continue to sculpt the competitive landscape, it is exciting to see the continuation of implementing the principles of Universal Design to help improve the lives of others.

Figures:

Figure 1: Interviewing Local Athletes

Figure 2: Immersive Research

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Figure 3: The Access

Figure 4: Fitness For Everyone

Figure 5: Innovative Engineering Figure 6: Simplified Interfaces