Times-Courier from Charleston, Illinois • Page 33

i VI 1 STUDIES FOR A BETTER WORLD fr 4: I NrqbM 2 lifW iF I 1 h1 I 4 UK J. AH Jed Willardson. left, and Mark Kattenbraker. right, both assistant professors in the EIU Department of Kinesiology and Sports Studies, and graduate student Mnranda Rehg studied the effectiveness of the popular exercise machine the Ab Circle versus traditional exercise. rm Fitness equipment put to the test against traditional exercise without machines By JEFFREY M.

WILLARDSON and MARK S. KATTENBRAKER i I i n( i.i hrouh the years, there I has been a steady stream of exercise devices offered for sale to the public, and one Eastern Illinois University student particularly the abdominals vs. traditional exercises like the basic crunch Some of the common claims made by manufacturers of these devices include: "greater overall effectiveness than traditional exercises," "greater sports specificity," "greater muscle activation," "greater trunk range of movement," "greater spinal support" and "simultaneous and effective cardiovascular conditioning The Ab Circle is a popular exercise device that has recently sold over 1 million units and has been advertised heavily on a television infomercial Described as a "treadmill for your abs," the Ab Circle is intended to activate the core muscles through continuous trunk lateral flexion that alternates on each side of the body An individual is positioned on the machine with the knees supported on the pads, while grasping the handles The individual then pulls on the handles to initiate a half circular motion This continuous movement is intended to train the cardiovascular system as well as stimulate activity of the core muscles. Exercise intensity can be regulalcd by increasing the angle lor greater gravitational pull Whereas most other devices involve trunk flexion and extension, Ihe Ab Circle involves trunk lateral flexion The ellectiveness ot the Ab Circle was recently studied by Maranda Rehg, a graduate student at Ell working with Willardson and Mark S. Kattenbraker.

both assistant professors in the Kit' Department ot Kinesiology and Spoils Studies The purpose ol this studs1 was to compare the activation ol specilic core muscles, including the rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominis, lower abdominal stabilizers and lumbar erector spmae din ing per formancc of traditional exercises i i crunch, side bridge and ciiadruped vs. exercising on the Ab Circle device Caloric expenditure during treadmill walking vs exercising on the Ab Or cie was also investigated Twelve healthy people 'six men. six women i between the ages ot 111 and were recruited to participate in this study. Muscle activation was studied Using surface elect romvographv EMC All three levels of the Ab Circle device were toted ag.inisi the h. side bridge and quadruped exercises Caloric expenditure was studied a portable metabolic measurement stem All hree levels ot I be 'ir cle device were tested against walking on .1 treadmill at mph and a mti cut incline All exercise modes were mom toled lor three minutes to assess me calories expended The researchers loutid that the Ah Circle produced equal or superior lllllscle act ivit Vs he crunch side bridge and ijuadrupcd The Ah Circle provided a highly ellicient workout thai addressed ail core muscles simultaneously Addit loiialK he real ad antage in Using Ihe Ah Circle might be the lacl that an equal number ol calories cetv expended as walking on a treadmill Therctore.

the stud lound. the Ah Circle provided an ellu lent combm.i lion muscle conditioning and calo rie burning benelits all in one machine with the help of two faculty members recently decided to test the effectiveness of one highly popular infomercial offering, the Ab Circle When participating in an exercise program, one of (he most targeted muscle groups is the abdominals. Everyone seems to desire fit-looking abdominals more than any other muscle group These muscles are considered part of what is collectively relerred to as the "core" of the IxkIv Maintaining or increasing the fitness of the core muscles is imjx)rtant for alleviating low back pain, efficient posture atxi aesthetics. Dozens of devices have been developed over the past years that claim to better train the core muscles (and Study examines mannerisms of Black Friday shoppers By LINDA SIMPSON, KATHLEEN O'ROURKE, LISA TAYLOR, KATIE SHAW, JILL BOWERS, DEBURAH REIFSTECK EIU School ot Fd''u'y ipnsurnpr inn Fl was nere lirst- move!" "I don't even i p. want to be here It's crazy." "II anyone gets in my way.

they better watch out. That's ali I'm saying." "You have to fight for what you want or go home empty handed "There's no sign 'I 7 weather for stores to open, contusion and chaos, heavilv clouded stores, long checkout lines, and the lack ol ol advertised sale products ol which can lead to Irus-tration and aggression lor consumers hn are already expel icncing high stress Competitiveness ol getting something that someone else wants also plavs a role in the increased aggression ol the sbopper M.m shopMTs have admitted to a itive mindset prior to entering stores on Black l-'n day One shopper even mentioned the "cr.fn looks" in other shoppers' eves This study was developed to observe and analyze the shopping teliav lors ot the Black Friday customer I'ndergraduate and graduate students were trained to observe shoppeis. and document behaviors and emotions that included aggres sion. anger, anxiety. boredom, bumping other carts, calmness, linking, cour teousness.

cursing, disgust, distress, dominance, excitement, tear, grabbing products or other customers, happiness, holding other customers, irritability, kicking other customers, maternal paternal aggression, punching pushing shoving tripping other customers, sadness, tension, territorial or lrnta hie aggression, tiredness, weapon usage, whin ing. ami yelling or name-calling Results showed that emotions and behavior of Black Friday shoppers ranged trom calm, courteous ami happy to anxious and irritable While the current research suggests that rela tively few shoppers demonstrated aggressiveness, even this small number could result in potentially dangerous behaviors and pose a safety concern to store employees and shoppers In the past, retailers have been posting weak profits during the holiday season, therefore, it is important for retailers to understand shoppers' motives on Black Friday to develop strategies to minimize frustration and aggression and. in turn, increase holiday sales rhat's stupid!" Attention all shoppers: Welcome to the day ifter Thanksgiving and the Black Friday When thinking of shopping on Black Friday, he things that come to mind are getting up at he crack of dawn, finding that perfect park-ng spot, long lines, waiting, bargains, crowds ind chaos. Black Friday signifies the start of the "hristmas holiday shopping season, which uns from the Friday after Thanksgiving Day ind continues until Dec. 24.

It has become a tradition for many families md friends to shop together on Black Friday even going so far as to wearing matching T-hirts sporting Black Friday designs and ising walkie-talkies to communicate with each ther when bargains are found. In recent years, the media has reported erious injuries, and even deaths, associated nth the aggressive shoppers on this day In IK.8. a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to eath and others were injured after an out-of-ontrol mob of shoppers smashed through the "ont doors when the store opened. Other less erious injuries of shoppers also have been over the years. A class discussion by students who were shar-lg their personal Black Friday shopping expe-lences after Thanksgiving break inspired a search study to take a closer look at this shopping day The year 2007 marked the first study Why does this shopping day bring about Kevin KilhoterStat Photoqrapher Kathleen O'Rourke, Linda Simpson and Lisa Taylor helped to lead a study to observe and analyze the shopping behaviors of Black Friday shoppers, which was inspired by a class discussion at Eastern Illinois University.

Jf Jf Competitiveness of getting something that someone LJ LJ else wants also plays a role in the increased aggression of the shopper. Many shoppers have admitted to a competitive mindset prior to entering stores on Black Friday. extreme behavior'' People tend to be more ing more social functions stressed during the holiday season, with time In addition. Black Friday is known for long constraints for shopping for gifts and attend- lines, customers waiting outdoors in cold.