Customer Showcase
Welcome to our Customer Showcase, a space dedicated to celebrating the achievements of a selection from over 12,000 HUR customers from around the world.
Here, you’ll discover real-world examples of how businesses like yours are leveraging HUR products and services to achieve remarkable results. Explore their stories, gain valuable insights, and find inspiration for your success.
Celebrating Customer Achievements Worldwide.
Australia - Health Studio 50+ (Active Aging gym)
Since its launch, the Studio has experienced strong demand from older South Australians who appreciate its holistic approach to health and wellbeing.
Health Studio 50+ is a natural progression since ACH Group, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1952 which offers a range of health, wellbeing, respite and support services, help at home and social activities, along with a range of accommodation options.
Alongside traditional clinic-based services such as physio, massage and podiatry, Studio customers have access to exercise groups including yoga, mindfulness, fitness, rehabilitation and balance.
Australia - Henley Retirement Facility
At The Henley on Broadwater retirement village on the Gold Coast there is a strong belief in the benefits of exercise with a variety of programs offered each day. However, the traditional pin-loaded weight stack gym equipment was a bridge too far for most residents and this left a large gap in their efforts to achieve the right health outcomes.
The Henley tried education sessions to encourage more people to attend the gym but without any real success. It seemed no amount of discussion around the benefits of strength training could coax users into the existing gym, with the gym only lightly used as most people found the mix of equipment difficult to understand and intimidating.
With a focus on ease of use, functionality and appearance, CEO Patrick Smith and Fitness Consultant Liz Webster reviewed a number of alternative providers and quickly settled on the HUR range.
“The HUR equipment simply stood out. Without a weight plate to be seen, it looked more like a lounge than gym and served to break down any barriers of use.”
”The decision we struggled over was whether or not to commit to the higher spend for the digital smart touch (ST) version of the equipment. However, it has turned out to be seminal to our success,” said Liz.
In discussion with their Residents’ Committee, they were also keen for staff to have access to the gym. The digital ST upgrade allowed for seamless integration of residents and staff to use the gym simultaneously without the need for manually adjusting each machine between users.
Extensive dialogue to excite the community about the ease of use and health benefits was also critical to the launch. “I couldn’t be happier than to have a problem with residents frustrated about getting access to the gym, and I’ve been overwhelmed by their appreciation of our investment,” said Patrick.
“We now have over 109 users in a community of 131 residents and have the unexpected issue of rostering gym access to a COVID-safe standard. The result has exceeded all our expectations”.
Belgium - To Walk Again - Revaluation Center
To Walk Again – Revaluation center, located in Belgium, is a post-rehabilitation center which provides adapted sports and physical activities to persons with physical disabilities.
HUR equipment is designed by current requirements for accessibility. The machines are designed to efficiently use space while offering impediment-free accessibility.
Our unique HUR Easy Access machines embody top design and expand user options far more than more traditional solutions.
Brunei - Sport Medicine & Research Centre
With the growth in development in Brunei Darussalam, HUR was introduced to Brunei’s Sport Medicine & Research Centre (SMRC) with the aim to assist the country’s athletes and para-games athletes in strength training and rehabilitation therapy.
“The easy access function and user friendliness of the equipment, in addition to the comprehensive reporting system with appropriate feedback, makes the HUR system standout against competitiors,” says Dr. Danish Zaheer, Head of Department, Sports
Medicine & Research Centre, Sport Medicine Specialist. Currently, 26 units of HUR equipment with HUR SmartCard System have been installed at SMRC. About 29 sports groups– including training groups of par-athletes, have been using the HUR System since.
Some of the groups using the HUR System have been: Silat Soccer, Athletetics, Karatedo, Taekwondo, Badminton, Tennis, Lawn Bowls, Wushu (martial arts), Sepak Takraw and Rowing.
China - Shandong Luneng Taishan Football Club
Shandong Luneng Taishan Football Club was initiated and established by Shandong Luneng Share-holding Corporation on January 5, 1998.
During the years, Luneng Taishan FC has sent more than 30 players for the national team and more than 60 players for the national youth and Olympic teams. Shandong Luneng Taishan Team has made great achievements since its foundation. It won two championships of the national series A league and the Football Association Cup in 1999, became the first “Champion of Two Titles” in China´s football history
Canada - ICORD PARC, Vancouver (Accessible gym)
Yuel Family Physical Activity Research Centre (PARC) is a community-based research facility. The facility is committed to providing opportunities for the local spinal cord injury (SCI) community to participate in research on exercise and physical activity. The adaptive HUR strength equipment enables our participants to complete their strength training and helps with maintaining their independence both during the use of the equipment as well as in their daily lives.
The facility is led by ICORD researchers and a PARC Advisory Committee made up of members from ICORD, Spinal Cord Injury BC, GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, and the UBC School of Kinesiology Outreach Program.
“Being a wheelchair user, the HUR machines make exercising much easier by either being able to roll up to the machine or making the transfer to the machine much smoother.” – Phil
“I am a frequent user of the HUR machines at PARC. The ability to be able to enter my work out programme, and to make adjustments on the HUR card, is an asset to working out. To slot your card into any specific machine and have your reps and frequency literally at your fingertips, is one of my building blocks for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.” – Linda
“I appreciate the independence and flexibility of the HUR machines to make the most of my time and workouts. The option to easily update and refresh multiple workout sets whenever needed is invaluable when it comes to achieving my fitness goals on any given day”.- Brad
Canada - NeuroGym®
NeuroGym® Rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary physiotherapy and rehabilitation centre for the treatment of movement impairments. We have over 30 years of experience treating individuals with neurological injuries and conditions. Our active, evidence-based approach allows patients to take action in their own recovery. Whenever possible, the patient, not the therapist, initiates movement, which can help rewire the brain and speed up recovery. When patient-initiated movement is challenging, we use our innovative techniques and tools to help enable motor recovery when it would otherwise be difficult or impossible to accomplish.
HUR at NeuroGym®
The NeuroGym® approach consists of four domains: Sensory Motor control and Coordination, Strength, Balance, and Mobility. The Strength domain is where the HUR equipment we employ plays a big role in our clients’ rehabilitation. Good muscular strength is an essential requirement for re-learning and improving mobility, balance, and motor skills. NeuroGym® has a Leg Extension/Curl machine, a Hip Abduction/Adduction machine, and an upright pulley, all of which we use daily. The two major advantages we’ve noticed while using HUR equipment with our unique clientele are accessibility and progression potential.
Accessibility
Many of our clients have mobility issues ranging from mild balance impairments to full-time wheelchair use. The design of HUR equipment allows us to perform strength training for the entire range of abilities. The pulley allows us to improvise almost any type of exercise, and the leg machines allow us to transfer clients with minimal standing capabilities in and out relatively easily. Whether we are doing upper extremity strengthening for a client with a Spinal Cord Injury using the pulley (pictured), a modified leg press for a client with Multiple Sclerosis (pictured) using the Leg Extension/Curl machine, or any other variation unique to a client or condition, HUR equipment provides us with the flexibility required to meet our clients’ needs.
Progression Potential
Clients coming to us post-stroke, with Spinal Cord Injuries, or with degenerative conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, often have limited strength. HUR equipment’s use of air compressors allows us to do strength training where a client may be too weak to use a traditional piece of resistance training equipment. Clients can start at 1lb (or even 0) if necessary and continue to progress by as little as 1lb at a time. This grants access to progressive strength training, the benefits of which are well-known, for all our clients. Strength training has been a crucial component in many of our clients’ journeys, whether it be someone who suffered a Stroke, Brain Injury, or Spinal Cord Injury going from being too weak to stand to being able to walk, or a client with a condition such as Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson’s being able to maintain their independence for longer.
Conclusion
HUR equipment’s design aligns itself well with NeuroGym®’s active and enabling approach as well as our belief in including high-intensity resistance training in neurorehabilitation.
Canada - University Health Network, Toronto Rehabilitation Centre
HUR equipment has been critical to my patients’ rehabilitation following their spinal cord injuries. There is a variety of machines that target most muscle groups and for all functional abilities. For clients who use a wheelchair or have decreased hand function, the HUR machines have several unique accommodations such as wheelchair entry, modified buttons, and incremental weight increases. These machines empower my clients to be independent while doing exercises rather than relying on someone else. Many clients have said how they love to work out on machines similar to what they may have used before their injuries. Their positive feedback always sends me back to look at new HUR options for future purchases. Highly recommend.
~ Kristi, Physiotherapist
Czech Republic - Olomouc University BALUO Sports Centre
The Olomouc University BALUO Sports Centre, a sports centre of Excellence, is open to the General public, students and high-end athletes alike. The state of the art facility is made possible by funding from the Czech government, Olomouc University and the European Union.
“There is no other facility like this in the Central Europe.” says Ilona Hapkova, Associate Professor and Director of the centre. The aim is to provide a facility for the High-end athletes and National teams in the Czech Republic. It is also equipped with the latest in technology to serve the research activities of companies of the University and for educational purposes as well. 24.000 students from 8 faculties will use the centre for practical sessions, as part of their
education.
“The centre will be open for the public, and it is my hope that we will be able to educate people about the role and importance of exercise to counter lifestyle diseases. This is the first center in the Czech Republic for preventive health where you diagnose the condition and then recommend an appropriate physical activity. All persons participating in the programs first go through a screening, and then we create a program based on their level and abilities. At the first stage, the emphasis is on teaching them proper skills instead of jumping directly to the strength regimen. This enables them to enjoy the training more and hopefully prevent injuries from happening at a later stage,” says Director Hapkova. The centre chose a full line of the HUR Smart Touch Cloud based equipment.
“HUR was the only company who could offer a complete solution that suits not only the high-end athletes, but also young people and persons with specific needs, with corresponding equipment and software. With this system it is possible to cooperate with other universities, and there is already an Erasmus project planned in collaboration with partners from Germany, Finland and Latvia. It benefits greatly for collaborative research, as all universities can link up to the same common database.”
HUR equipment has been critical to my patients’ rehabilitation following their spinal cord injuries. There is a variety of machines that target most muscle groups and for all functional abilities. For clients who use a wheelchair or have decreased hand function, the HUR machines have several unique accommodations such as wheelchair entry, modified buttons, and incremental weight increases. These machines empower my clients to be independent while doing exercises rather than relying on someone else. Many clients have said how they love to work out on machines similar to what they may have used before their injuries. Their positive feedback always sends me back to look at new HUR options for future purchases. Highly recommend.
~ Kristi, Physiotherapist
Finland - Metropolia University of Applied Sciences – Helsinki
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences is Finland’s largest university of applied sciences located in Helsinki and it educates the professionals in the fields of Business, Culture, Health care and Social services, and Technology.
This collaboration will benefit various kinds of innovation projects, project collaboration as well as students learning environment.
HUR’s latest Smart Technology exercise equipment were delivered in Metropolia’s brand-new Myllypuro Campus, which aims to bring together people-focused expertise where well-being, built environment and healthy future are developed together.
“We at Rehabilitation Degree Programs are expecting a new learning environment based on smart technology that will bring modern learning experiences to students, as well as innovative R&D collaboration between Metropolia and HUR,” says lecturer Anu Valtonen.
Finland - Suomen Fysiogeriatria Oy (Geriatric Physio & Dementia Rehab)
“We have been using the computerized HUR equipment for the rehabilitation of seniors and people with dementia since 2010. Our physiotherapists and our customers appreciate the benefits and possibilities of HUR products – they are safe and easy to use – and they provide us with important data for client follow-up and motivation” Katja Sohlberg, Chairman Of The Board, Suomen Fysiogeriatria
Suomen Fysiogeriatria Oy specializes in geriatric physiotherapy and comprehensive rehabilitation for the elderly, people with memory disorders and veterans at home, at nursing homes and at rehabilitation centres.
Physiotherapists specializing in geriatrics and elderly patients possess the latest knowledge and skills related to rehabilitation for the elderly. The goal is to increase quality of life and happiness, regardless of the customer’s age or situation.
Finland - Validia Rehabilitation Center
“The Rehabilitation Centre has been particularly satisfied with the fact that HUR’s Easy Access Line is suitable for everybody – those in wheelchairs, people with other mobility and sensory impairments and able bodied exercisers” – Harri Ahtee, Senior Instructor
The Validia Rehabilitation Centre in Helsinki, Finland, works with people who suffer from spinal cord or brain damage, caused by accident or by illness. “HUR’s Easy Access Line was developed in conjunction with the Centre, so it was an obvious decision for us to install HUR equipment when the facility was refurbished in 2002”, says Mr. Ahtee.
“Working in partnership with HUR has been extremely easy; they listened to our requirements and incorporated them into the development of the Easy Access Line”. Validia Rehabilitation Centre has both HUR Easy Access and Rehabilitation Line equipment. Users and staff have commented on its ease of use as well as the size and location of adjustment buttons. Other positive features include range limiters, the near zero starting resistance with step less adjustments and the lightweight, compact nature of the machines.
Finland - Actilife Wellness Centres
“The HUR equipment with the HUR SmartTouch system, in the nice surroundings of our gym, offers a great training experience for our customers.” Annukka Savolainen, Executive Vice President, Actilife
Actilife runs three wellness centres – one main club with a broad range of wellness services, one ladies’ gym and one community gym.
France - Clinique Saint-Yves, France
In this facility, there are 16 HUR strength training devices and 20 HUR SmartTouch-compatible cardio devices by Lode.
The beautiful clinic welcomes patients with digestive and nutritional rehabilitation needs as well as cardiovascular rehabilitation patients.
For HUR strength training the machine colour has been split by muscle group with light blue for the upper body, fuchsia for the core and lime for the lower body. This eases and simplifies the training,g especially for special groups.
Germany - Physiotherapy Clinic Schult, Germany
Physiotherapy clinic Schult in Germany offers state-of-the-art medical training therapy with HUR’s pneumatic (air resistance) technology.
The team consists of physiotherapists dedicated to providing expert treatment and advice, and ready to offer the highest standard of care for their clients in a safe, professional, and friendly environment.
This customer has been using HUR equipment for more than 20 years. Now the owner’s daughter, Ms Kathrin took over the clinic and decided to invest in new Hi5 equipment.
Global Sites- Belgium, USA, Canada, Australia (Adaptive Equipment)
Japan - Tsuboi Clinic in Nagoya, Japan
HUR Resistance training is safe for selected cardiac rehabilitation patients and provides several health and fitness benefits. HUR multifunction machine x5 has been installed in Tsuboi Clinic in Nagoya, Japan. The clinic offers cardiac rehabilitation, medical examinations for heart diseases, internal medicine, and diabetes.
This clinic’s cardiac rehabilitation program includes:
– Aerobic exercise at an optimal and safe intensity
– Individual strength training guidance
– Regular evaluation of muscle mass and strength
Hungary - National Handball Academy Balatonboglár
Hungary has a respected position among the top ranking nations of handball sport. The golden years of Hungarian handball include the Olympic gold medals in 1949 and 1965 and the European championship gold medal in 2000.
The continued success of the sport looks promising with the ongoing popularity of the handball game in Hungary, which has more than 28,000 active players across 578 teams, 54% of active players are under 18 years. The Hungarian Handball Federation “HHF” was founded in 1933, becoming a member of the International Handball Federation in 1948 and it is one of the founding members of the European Handball Federation. The Hungarian Handball Federation, recognizing the popularity of handball sport as a free-time activity has elaborated a long term strategy to develop the sport as a Preferred National Sport in Hungary.
Hungarian Handball Federation together with its development partners decided to found a modern training complex, the National Handball Academy, in order to provide up-todate competition, training and educational facility for the different types of handball sports. The planned multifunctional complex would serve as a base for other court games like basketball, volleyball, futsal, tennis, wrestling, fencing, etc. The design of the facility reflects both the functional specification of the Hungarian Handball Federation and the requirements of other court games, on both a professional and amateur level. In addition to the core sports functions, the facility has been designed to integrate educational, conference and touristic features in order to increase the viability of the project. The positioning of the different buildings has been designed to create all access areas on the front entrance of the site while offering quiet zones for the sportsmen at the back.
Hungary - ZTE Zalaegerszeg Football Club
ZTE Zalaegerzseg Football Club traces its roots back to 1912, at the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Their league history began in 1924 when they joined the Hungarian second division. ZTE has provided several players to both the national and the national youth team, as well as the Olympic team. The team has earned titles like the Hungarian League championships and the Hungarian Cup and has played several seasons in the European Champions and the European League.
The renovated base of ZTE Arena came into use in September of 2016, and for the new facilities ZTE chose HUR products to do high speed and rehabilitation training. The pneumatic system provides the ability to execute quick movements with a heavy load but without inertia. According the Head of Physiotherapy of ZTE ,Tamas Poka, the HUR Force Platform gives an objective help on rehabilitation and clear picture how the players improve in jumping and landing abilities at the Training and Rehab centre of ZTE Football Club.
“In every half season we make the measurements with the platform so we can score the players, and we see if there is a need to work more with them in this area. We have also a research group, where we make a 6 week plyometric training to improve their strength and jumping abilities“, Poka explains. They do the activities in different groups; one plyometric group, one group who does myofascial stretching and correction exercises, and one control group who does regular exercises. “We measure counter movement, squat jump abilities both two legs and half leg, so we can follow their improvements. We also check their landing datas in order to prevent the incidence of ankle sprains in the games.
On the rehabilitation side we make the same measures, also with the balance tests, isometric force test, and the functional test as well. There is a correlation between the maximal isometric force tests and jump test, in every rehabilitation phase we make measures especially in ACL ruptures and muscle strains. If the functions and the test results are okay and there is no difference or just a minimal difference between the two legs, then we can go to the next step” Tamas Poka continues
Japan - Sunpu no Mori Rehabilitation Clinic
In Sunpu-no-mori facility, more than 30 HUR equipment are used daily for injury prevention and rehabilitation. In this facility, 1 medical doctor, 11 physiotherapists, 2 occupational therapists, 1 speech therapist, 3 exercise instructors, 2 nurses, 10 care assistants and 2 medical social workers are working.
According to Mr. Saito, a physiotherapist and FIFA+11 instructor, the mission of this studio is “to understand the physical condition of each patient and see how effectively each joint and muscle is functioning. First, we make a test and analysis, and then we plan the training programs for the individuals.”
Japan - Taijukai (Seniors Rehab)
“We chose HUR equipment because it is quiet, requires little space and has a friendlier, less machine-like appearance.” –Naoki Inoue, Director
Taijukai, a rehabilitation center for senior citizens, is a social welfare corporation owned by several different nursing homes. The center, located in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo, was founded in 1994 and has been successfully using HUR since 2003.
We chose HUR equipment because it is quiet, requires little space and has a friendlier, less machine-like appearance. The average age of users in the rehabilitation center is 80. In our experience, the equipment has proven to be very effective. Those of our clients who were able to walk now walk even more briskly, and several who arrived in wheelchairs have left here walking –Naoki Inoue, Director
Malaysia – Perkeso (Workplace Injury Recovery)
Social Security Organization (SOCSO), which is also known as PERKESO, is a government agency in Malaysia established to implement and administer social security schemes under the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969.
In 2008, the Social Security Organization of Malaysia’s Rehabilitation Centre – Pusat Rehabilitasi Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial (PERKESO) was established to assist employees who are insured under Perkeso to undergo a series of rehabilitation programs and prepare them to return to the workplace after their injuries.
Perkeso expanded its reach to Klang Valley recently by setting up the first integrated mall-concept outpatient satellite centre at Quill City Mall in Kuala Lumpur on 11 January 2021.
The centre is equipped with HUR strength training equipment and neuro-robotic technology that offers physical rehabilitation programs including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, vocational rehab and mental wellbeing programs.
Singapore - ASPIRE 55 (Active Aging gym)
ASPIRE55 Singapore – Asia’s first virtual retirement village, is a wellbeing community for adults over 55 years old. Designed by a team of young and energetic facilitators, ASPIRE55 offers a combination of social, health and care services that are typically available at a physical retirement village, whilst the members can continue living in their existing homes.
“We hope to demonstrate the effectiveness of regular exercise on older adults in Singapore. In the process of doing so, we aim to create a community of like-minded older adults who are committed to increasing their muscle strength as they age. Like our partners in Finland, we believe it’s possible to be stronger as we age”, says Ms Loke Yiing Ching, Managing Director, ASPIRE55 Pte Ltd, Singapore.
Singapore - St Luke's ElderCare
St Luke’s is a Christian healthcare provider committed to meeting the evolving needs of our patients, clients and caregivers.
Within the St Luke’s eco-system, St Luke’s ElderCare delivers a full range of integrated services and programmes for our elders through our nursing home in Ang Mo Kio and 23 eldercare centres islandwide while St Luke’s Hospital is a 243-bed community hospital that serves patients regardless of race and religion.
Switzerland - Body Brain (Physical & Cognitive for Seniors)
The center offers specific training methods for seniors (50+), focused on preventive exercise, cardiovascular rehabilitation, falls prevention and maintaining cognitive abilities.
Body Brain is a center of physical and cognitive activities in Vevey, Switzerland.
Everything started with Chantal Sauer and her deep empathy toward her beloved mother, suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Ms Sauer was also profoundly affected by the condition of other residents living in the same senior home as her mother.
Thus Chantal Sauer promised to create a centre for physical and cognitive training, focusing on preventing the main causes of loss of independence; falls, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. In other words, the mission of BodyBrain is to offer 50+ people the possibility to age in good shape.
United Kingdom - Oxford Brookes University
Set in a historic student city, Oxford Brookes is one of the UK’s leading modern universities and enjoys an international reputation for teaching excellence and innovation as well as strong links with business and industry.
In total 18 HUR SmartTouch strength training devices were delivered to the university including 9 HUR Hi5 Equipment with Easy Access option, which is designed to meet the specific needs of wheelchair users and those with mobility and sensory impairments.
SportsMed Products had interviewed Dr Peter Wright, Programme Lead Sport & Coaching Sciences.
“HUR Training Equipment will be used for teaching of health and rehabilitation, but also fitness related modules and expose students and staff to the equipment and technology around it. In addition, HUR equipment will be used for research in special and clinical populations.
I am planning to set up a university based charity next year which will allow externals to come in and conduct specialist rehab interventions, i.e. cardiac rehab, exercise for diabetes patients, pulmonary rehab, cancer rehab and possibly orthopaedic conditions. This will be done in collaboration with local hospitals and other stakeholders.
The plan is to also use this for work placements of our students and a research platform in order to have access to these populations.” says Dr Peter.
USA - Legacy at Forest Ridge, an Assisted Living and Memory Care Community
Fox Hill Village, located in Westwood, MA is a Senior Living Community with approximately 400 residents. Since the newly renovated Fitness Center opened in 2021 the communities participation rate has grown to an impressive 65%. We sat down with Linda Riley, Director of Fitness and Stephanie Giroux, Fitness Specialist to discover how they were able to accomplish this impressive feat.
Q: Your community has an impressive participation rate! What do you believe is impacting your success?
Linda: We believe these three factors have led to our higher participation rate.
1. Scheduling a 1:1 Orientation: When we first received the HUR equipment we scheduled a 1:1 orientation with each resident. The previous equipment was intimidating and difficult for them to use, so being trained on the new HUR equipment helped them experience just how easy the machines are to use.
2. Technology-Enabled Equipment: Having technology-enabled equipment made it simple. The HUR SmartTouch allows our residents to use the machines independently and quickly. Our residents are so busy, and there is always something for them to do. However, having equipment that can auto-load their training program and capture their progress makes it easy for them to fit into their HUR exercise circuit because it is fast and efficient.
3. Success Begets Success: Our residents regularly talk with one another about their strength training plans and how being stronger is helping them stay independent and live healthy and vibrant lives. Our trainers do a great job helping our residents train specifically for their goals, such as getting up from a chair independently or dancing at a wedding. With HUR SmartTouch, we can build a strength training plan that helps them meet those goals.
Q: You mentioned having the right equipment is important if you want your residents to strength train. Can you explain why this makes a difference?
Stephanie: The average age of our residents is 82, and we have many active adults over 90! Although our previous equipment was pneumatic, it was bulky, had hard and uncomfortable seats, and it was nearly impossible for them to independently make the necessary adjustments to the seat, levers, and resistance settings. Quite frankly, it was equipment built for a much younger audience. A lot of our residents are women with smaller frames, and, some of them, they couldn’t even get on or off the equipment without assistance. Some just avoided using it altogether. The HUR equipment is not only attractive and less intimidating visually but also has additional features such as strong and sturdy hand grips that make it easier to get on and off.
Q: What impact does having equipment enabled with technology make in your fitness center?
Linda: Overall, equipment enabled with the HUR SmartTouch makes for a much more enjoyable experience! Instead of carrying around a piece of paper with their seat and resistance settings, all they have to do is scan their RFID band, and the equipment auto-adjusts and documents their workout. They don’t need to have any anxiety about remembering what they did or turning anything in when they are done. The Power function has been a great tool for personal training and gives the residents a visual goal to hit. The range of motion features helps them do the entire movement to ensure they aren’t cheating themselves.
Q: Can you share some success stories with us?
Stephanie: Sure! Here are just a few things our residents are saying:
“I was having back pain every morning. I walk a lot and I used to think strength training was boring. Thanks to the encouragement of the Fox Hill trainers I gave it a try, and I was wrong! IT CHANGED MY LIFE! I feel stronger. I use the HUR equipment every day and it helps me with my overall wellbeing. A win-win.” – Ernie
“It has improved my strength! I like the way the machine tells me what to do in terms of weight, sets to do, etc. I do not have to think about it. It makes me want to come more!” – Elaine
“Getting up out of my chair is easier.” – Valerie
“I love that my workout is efficient and quick.” – D Smith
USA - Landis Senior Homes (achieved 316% increase fitness participation)
Increasing resident engagement in a fitness program is a high priority for most senior living communities, but getting residents to follow through on a commitment to weekly workouts is easier said than done. Recently, we spoke with Adam, the Wellness Manager for Landis Homes in Lititz, Pennsylvania to find out how they achieved a 316% increase in participation in just one year.
Q: Your community has recently experienced a tremendous increase in participation with your fitness program. What are the key factors driving such a dramatic increase?
Adam: The increase is the result of two important initiatives. First, we built a new fitness center and equipped it with HUR SmartTouch machines. Second, we worked very hard to make sure every interested resident in our community was set up in the HUR SmartTouch system with a personalized program and was well-oriented to the equipment.
These were significant changes, but they have already proven to be worth it. We had an average of 240 monthly visits to our old fitness center. Today, we see an average of 1000 monthly visits. That’s a 316% increase.
Q: Was increased engagement & participation a primary goal in building the new fitness center and replacing your old equipment?
Adam: Definitely. Our old fitness center was small and in the basement of a residential living building. The equipment was outdated and difficult for many of our residents to use. It was not a welcoming place to be and did little to inspire residents to come in and work out. As a result, some residents left the campus to go exercise at other gyms in the area, and many others weren’t exercising at all.
As a community, we wanted to do a better job of serving the wellness needs of our residents on our campus and knew that building a new facility and upgrading exercise equipment was imperative. The previous fitness center was equipped with old Keiser machines that were difficult to use and required manual adjustments. We only had about 8 people in our community actively using the equipment, and a few of those were staff members!
Residents had to dig a paper copy of their fitness plan out of a filing cabinet, keep track of their progress, remember how to execute each exercise, and manually adjust each machine. This was enough to discourage most of our residents from using the strength equipment.
Q: After opening the new fitness center, did engagement increase right away?
Adam: From the moment we opened the doors of the new wellness center, it was packed. After the HUR machines were installed in June of 2018, we began conducting an average of 6-10 orientations a day. With each orientation, we set residents up with their program using the HUR SmartTouch system. They were immediately excited to see how the machines not only automatically loaded their program, but also adjusted for them like magic!
Nearly every day, residents tell us how much they appreciate the HUR SmartTouch system.
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We have residents who had never before set foot in a gym coming in every week to work out. Perhaps most dramatic is the increase in women who are exercising every week. Remember when I mentioned that we only had about 8 people using the old equipment? None of them were women. Now a huge percentage of female residents are working out regularly.
One woman told us that she’d never felt that she belonged in a gym. But now that she’s using HUR equipment she not only feels like she belongs in the fitness center, she looks forward to it!
It’s also been great to see residents who had been working out in off-campus gyms getting their fitness needs met right here inside our community.
Q: It’s one thing to generate initial excitement for a new fitness center but another to encourage consistent engagement. What have you done to get residents coming back consistently over time?
Adam: For the first several months, we allocated almost all of our staff hours to orientations and getting residents set up with a personalized fitness plan inside the HUR SmartTouch system. We spent over an hour with each resident, feeling that if we put the work in at the beginning, it would pay off in the long term.
I knew from personal experience that, if someone doesn’t immediately feel comfortable with the gym and the equipment, they won’t come back. If they feel like they won’t be able to set everything up or make the right adjustments to the equipment on their own, they are unlikely to even try. Many of our residents expressed how confident they felt about using HUR equipment from the start and that they felt good about coming back on their own.
We noticed some residents seemed excited about the equipment in the initial orientation, but weren’t coming back on their own. We suspected that those residents might need more one-on-one time with a staff member. So, we set up scheduled times when residents know that a staff member will be available in the fitness center to answer their questions, give them a refresher on how to use the HUR SmartTouch system or make adjustments to their workout routine. This made a huge difference, helping even more of our residents feel comfortable and confident about using the equipment on their own.
Another thing that has supported long-term engagement is the data provided through the HUR SmartTouch system. Recently, a resident told us that she didn’t feel like she was making any progress with her workouts. We pulled up her reports and she could immediately see substantial improvement. Because the equipment had been making gradual, small automatic increases in resistance, without even realizing it, she had been getting stronger. Having that kind of data at our fingertips has been fundamental to supporting the motivation of our residents to stick with their program.
Q: Has the new fitness center and exercise equipment had an impact on the overall growth of your community?
Adam: Absolutely. Not only has the new fitness center and equipment increased resident satisfaction, it’s made our community much more attractive to new residents. We have a lot of retirement communities in our area, many of them offering similar services and quality of care. Having the new fitness center equipped with HUR machines has set us apart. It’s especially attractive to many of the younger seniors who are just starting to think about moving into a retirement community.
USA - Lifewell Senior Living (achieved 286% increase fitness participation)
Residents who exercise with HUR at Legacy senior living communities in Texas and Florida report an average strength increase of 286%. Yes . . . 286%! Charles Turner, president of Lifewell Senior Living, and Schon Alkire, manager of lifestyle innovation, report that the impressive numbers, recorded by HUR’s Smart technology, contribute to a reduction in falls, alleviate depression, help manage physical pain and improve lives.
“With HUR strength equipment and Smart technology we can produce measurable outcomes to demonstrate that we provide great care for our residents,” says Turner. “We don’t just say we care . . . we can show we care.”
Schon is quick to point out that using the technology to track and document changes over time is great, but knowing the difference the Legacy fitness program and HUR equipment has made in the lives of individual residents is even better. Take for example, Miss Norma who initially needed assistance getting out of bed. She now works out daily, has had a 1,500 percent improvement in strength and credits the Legacy fitness program with changing her life. And then there is Mr. Joe who used a wheelchair. Determined to walk again, he works out regularly with the HUR equipment and now struts off to the dining room on his own two feet.
“With HUR strength equipment we can demonstrate our remarkable outcomes and further our goal of providing connected, active and purposeful lifestyles for older adults,” says Dean Mattsson, Chief Operating Officer, Lifewell Senior Living.
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