Q. What is the eccentron^TM?

A. The eccentron is a brand-new, patent-pending strength-training device that works the muscles eccentrically, or negatively, for rapid strength gains, explosive muscle power, and phenomenal benefits to the joints in an easy-to-use, safe, low-impact fashion. Additionally, the eccentron puts minimal strain on the cardiovascular system. It was invented by three university research doctors: a physical therapist, a biologist, and an MD, and its clinical research was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Q. What is eccentric/negative strength training?

A. When you lift a weight, as in a biceps curl, your muscle shortens during resistance and that is called a concentric contraction. When you lower the weight, your muscle lengthens as it works against the force of the weight, and that is an eccentric, or negative, contraction. We use both types of contractions in everyday use. Common examples of eccentric muscle work are walking down stairs, downhill hiking, lowering a child into a booster seat or crib, sitting down, getting into a car, and skiing.

Q. How is eccentric strength training more beneficial than "normal" (concentric) training?

A. Eccentric training is highly beneficial in several ways:

1. You can work with much higher loads eccentrically than concentrically. Greater loads mean more efficient workouts and faster results.
2. You can do much more work eccentrically in less time. A principle guideline for effective strength-training is to progressively overload (fatigue) the working muscles. Since the muscles are working harder and more efficiently, they will fatigue sooner. And the eccentron works muscle groups together, rather than individually, which provides better functional fitness for everyday life.
3. Eccentric loading works the muscles in a "fast-twitch" mode, resulting in a tighter spring quality of the muscles. That translates into a more powerful and explosive performance like increased vertical jump and tighter turns when skiing.
4. Strength gains obtained with eccentric work carry over to concentric strength, but not vice versa.
5. Eccentric work requires much less oxygen than concentric. That means it does not tax the heart, and therefore is safe for those who have to watch their heart rate and blood pressure.
6. Eccentric training benefits the entire joint structure in the same way it benefits muscles: more strength, stability, and in many cases, range of motion.
7. Most preventative and post-surgical physical therapy is based on eccentric work. If the joints and muscles are trained eccentrically they can be stronger and more stable, thus less prone to injury. One of the main concerns after injury or surgery is muscle atrophy. By working at higher loads, atrophy can be reduced or eliminated, which means you can be back to normal activities and sports much sooner.
8. People who have difficulty exercising (elderly, post-surgical, arthritic, heart patients) have very few effective options to overcome their advanced weakness. Concentric muscle work requires some level of strength to lift, but eccentric work is effective with "passive resistance." Meaning, rather the doing the work, the work is done to them. This creates a brand-new opportunity for many people to overcome their weakness and get back to their normal activities of daily living.

Q. Why would you not want to put strain on the cardiovascular system? I thought that was a good thing.

A. For most people, it is a good thing, and is accomplished with a variety of cardiovascular exercise like cycling, stair-stepping, elliptical use, running, swimming, etc. Many people with cardiac and other problems are restricted in how much concentric exercise they can perform, and have much more capacity to do eccentric work. The eccentron is not a substitute for aerobic exercise; it is a muscle-strengthening activity just like lifting weights or using weight machines, except it provides much greater and quicker results.

Q. How does the eccentron make strength training easier?

A. The only way to add negatives to your workout is to slow down the lowering phase or to have a partner physically add resistance by adding weights or their own pressure to your weight bar. Either way it is inconsistent, cumbersome, potentially dangerous, and in the second case, requires another person. You are basically limited in the eccentric phase by how much you can lift concentrically.

The eccentron provides motorized resistance in a comfortable machine, either recumbent-style for lower body work, or seated for upper body work. The user doesn't lift at all, but rather, resists against the force produced by the motor. The great thing about it is the user controls how hard they work. So newcomers to exercise can resist lightly, although it will still engage the muscle more effectively than if they were doing equivalent concentric work (lifting). The elite athlete, on the other hand, can resist much more than they can put on a weight stack, which is compounded by the high number of reps accomplished in an eccentron workout session.

Q. Are there dangers of doing eccentric muscle work?

A. While negative weight work has been around for years, particularly in the body-building realm, no one had researched its effects on the muscles to the lengths the inventors of the eccentron have. You know that sore, stiff feeling you get a couple days after working out hard, or the first ski day of the season? That mainly comes from the eccentric portion of your recent activity. So it was believed that too much eccentric work would result in muscle damage. Instead, thanks to the cutting-edge research of the eccentron inventors, they demonstrated that consistent eccentric muscle work delivers huge benefits not easily acquired by any other activity. The key is that it must be performed with a gradual ramp-up. So there may be muscle soreness the first 2 or 3 weeks of eccentric work, but once the muscle has fully adapted, you can work at your maximum level with minimal or no muscle soreness. By following the eccentron's pre-set programs, the user becomes properly accustomed to the eccentric workout. Of course, as with any exercise regimen, people should consult with their doctors before starting a new level of activity.

Q. Why hasn't anyone else developed this type of product?

A. There are, and have been, types of machines that focus on eccentric muscle work. However, none that is as easy to use or adaptable to so many different kinds of users as the eccentron. The others mimic weight lifting or eccentric activities, whereas the eccentron is like using a stationary bike.

Q. Who can benefit from using the eccentron?

A. Virtually anyone and everyone from overweight kids, to frail elderly, to world-class athletes, to healthy adults who don't have enough time to do a full-body workout in the gym, to rehab patients:

1. Anyone in the general population who either currently works out or has been reluctant to in the past. No special attire (other than supportive shoes) is necessary, and a full-body strength workout can be achieved in 30 minutes or less.
2. Women are the fastest growing group of people who exercise with weights. The eccentron is very effective at toning muscle without creating a body-builder look. High resistance strength training is often recommended for keeping bones healthy and strong as well.
3. Conventional wisdom used to be that kids shouldn't strength-train until their bones are done growing. New research now shows that, when administered properly, strength training is very beneficial to kids particularly in reducing injuries. And with the rising problem of obesity and diabetes in kids, strength training is a great tool to improve body composition. And since the eccentron is easy to use, there are fewer problems related to performance and coordination.
4. Athletes can train at very high resistive loads, which can add muscle size, strength, and improved spring quality. Additionally, the eccentron can be utilized successfully to avoid plateaus and repetitive training problems.
5. Rehab patients of all kinds. The eccentron is very useful in getting range of motion back as well as building muscle and joint strength after surgery. And since it is motorized it can even be used passively at first, with force applied when the user is ready. It is effective as a prevention tool, as much knee "prehab" is focused on building quad muscle and knee stabilizer strength. For cardiac rehab patients, it provides a much more effective workout than the concentric equivalent of walking or cycling, due to the low oxygen requirement of eccentric muscle work.
6. "Exercise-intolerant" populations like frail elderly, those with heart of lung problems, and post-surgical patients of all kinds can utilize the eccentron to reduce or even reverse muscle atrophy, weakness, and instability. Elderly patients with heart problems who worked out 3 times a week for 12 weeks on the eccentron reduced their risk of falling from high-risk to low-risk.

Q. How can the eccentron help me get in shape?

A. By quickly strengthening and toning muscles, which burn more calories than fat, and making other fitness activities easier and more fun. And because you can work out for a shorter period of time, it is easier to incorporate exercise into your busy schedule. You can even use the eccentron in street clothes and athletic shoes. If we made it any easier, it wouldn't work!

Q. Can the eccentron improve my sports performance?

A. Yes! The U.S. Ski Team uses and endorses the eccentron as part of their off-season training and injury recovery. In testing other athletic applications, we did a short, 6-week study with some high school basketball players. One group trained on the eccentron, and the other group continued with their usual weights and plyometrics program. The eccentron group increased their vertical jump an average of 10% or 2" in just 6 weeks, while the other group had no measurable gains! The improved spring quality of the muscles through high force resistance training is an asset to all sports activities.

Q. Where can I get/use one?

A. The devices are currently in Beta Testing at a variety of rehab, athletic training and senior care facilities. We expect to have the eccentron available for sale by the beginning of 2005. A prototype is available for demo at the Eccentron office in Denver.

Q. How much does it cost?

A. The eccentron will be in the same price range as high-end treadmills and elliptical machines.

Q. Can I invest in the eccentron?

A. There are potential opportunities for strategic partnerships with Eccentron, LLC. Please contact the Eccentron office for more details.

Q. Where can I get more information?

A. We are centrally located in the Cherry Creek area in Denver and can be reached at 303-331-6704. Or, you can visit our website at www.eccentron.com