FitQuest has gone from strength to strength this year, working on roll outs with The Gym Group in the UK, installs with Go Fit in Spain, as well as operators in Asia, Poland, Germany and France.
While users perform exercises such as balance, press ups, explosive jumps and step tests, the device measures eight metrics: motor sensory control, explosive leg power, upper body strength & endurance, lower body strength & endurance speed and cardiovascular fitness.
The machine has a user-friendly touch screen interface, which members can use independently. It takes just four minutes to give an accurate health assessment and the results can be used to develop an individualised programme.
“We’re entering a new era of using solid data to produce evidence-based exercise programmes to tackle health and fitness issues,” says FitQuest CEO, Brian Firth. “The future of health and fitness will be about automation, personalisation and data driven programming.”
Firth observes there are a number of ways in which operators are incorporating FitQuest scanners into their clubs. A popular approach, which has been taken by The Gym Group, is to offer access to the scanner as part of a premium membership. In addition to this, the unit can be set up so that members who are not on a premium package can pay individually to use it.
“This approach provides an additional revenue stream for the club, as well as an extra service to members which supports adherence to exercise and retention,” says Firth.
In Asia, where there is a greater uptake of PT than in Europe, the scanners are frequently used as a way of upselling PT services.
“The PT goes through the scores with the member and talks about how they can work to improve their measurements,” says Firth. “It allows them to understand their client very quickly and the PT becomes more of a coach, helping the individual to get the most out of their training.”
Finally, Firth envisages FitQuest could be used to support an exciting new category of digital membership, which could mobilise more people and drive up penetration levels:
“FitQuest offers such an easy and effective way of creating a personalised exercise programme, that clubs could use the scanners to create, and update, programmes for people who choose to do their training outside the gym,” he says. “They could come to the club every six weeks for a review and to tweak their programme.”
A significant Spanish operator, is taking a similar approach to this at its clubs by using FitQuest to undertake health assessments and then prescribe exercise programmes which comprise a mix of activities, according to the member’s capacity interests and lifestyle.
In other locations FitQuest devices have replaced the former 40-minute health assessments.
“This means the fitness instructors only have to spend four minutes assessing the member and can spend 36 minutes creating a highly personalised programme which incorporates the activities which interest them,” says Firth.
“We are seeing the beginning of much more holistic approaches abroad. Operators offering a range of activities including road cycling, mountain biking and running outside their facilities to complement activities within the facility. What we are beginning to see is individual programmes being built by the operator for the member that include a wider variety of options. This approach isn’t currently happening in the UK market, but could be a way of driving up penetration. For example, white water kayaking is excellent for building upper body strength, but also purposeful walking on the way to work could become part of a programme which makes people more engaged with both exercise and the club.”
