Unique Exercise Device Could Help Baby Boomers and Seniors Prevent and Treat Osteoporosis

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Aug. 1, 2013 - PRLog -- The Orbital 360, a unique exercise device created by Michael Whitis—an inventor with forty years of experience as a trainer and bodybuilder—brings new hope for those suffering from Osteoporosis, joint pain and other injuries especially common in Baby Boomers and seniors.

The Orbital 360’s design, based upon the human skeletal system, was created by Whitis after  witnessing a hip transplant. He developed the concept whereby a mechanical ball and socket joint—like replacement hips surgically implanted in human beings—could be translated into a new device built for use outside the body. Designed to mimic real life human rotational movement patterns, the Orbital 360 also comes with the addition of a new technology, friction resistance, which is constant and consistent with human 3D movement patterns. It is friction resistance that adds strengthening, stretching and cardio, all concurrently, while using the Orbital 360 training system.

“Nothing in the exercise realm has really been created for the needs of the baby-boomers,” says Whitis, a Baby Boomer himself, who is intently focused on educating that population, as well as seniors, on exercising in ways that reduce injuries and wear and tear on the body.

“Most Boomers and seniors have some type of arthritic condition or pain syndrome that makes it especially difficult to use the majority of the existing exercise equipment. They need something that supports the essentials of their lifestyle and wellness, yet is safe and effective for those with changing physical states,” explains Whitis.

The Orbital 360's potential effectiveness as a superior combatant of Osteoporosis has been illustrated by a 63-year-old female who saw a significant increase in bone density since using the machine. Bone density exams taken two years apart showed an increase of about 10%. This is even after four years of consistent weight-bearing exercise that had not shown any additional changes for the two years prior. The newest reading was taken after about 14 months of consistent use of the Orbital 360 on a three-times-per-week basis.

Additionally, a 77-year-old woman had been in physical therapy for five months with a frozen shoulder and had gained only 85° of unassisted shoulder flexion. After three 10 minute sessions on the Orbital 360, her shoulder flexion went to 145°. In her own words, three sessions on the Orbital 360 helped her more than the five months of traditional physical therapy. There are numerous other examples of the Orbital 360 changing people’s lives for the better, from injured athletes to wounded war veterans.

"The Orbital 360 is the first exercise unit that provides friction resistance against any possible movement by the body,” said Dr. David Lipman, a Chiropractic Physician/Personal Trainer and Director of Research for Michael Whitis Wellness 360. "It allows the body to perform all of its normal movements and provides constant and consistent friction resistance to any of those movements without forcing the body to adapt to a single plane or particular movement pattern, as with all traditional exercise equipment to date. Allowing the body to exercise with its natural dynamics is particularly necessary for boomers and seniors due to chronic musculoskeletal challenges that many of them face.”

Michael Whitis Wellness 360

Michael Whitis is credited as a pioneer in the exercise world for the use of elastic bands for resistance, known as Therabands and used around the world today, and for building the first Space Gym in the late 1970’s on which he trained many Hollywood stars, including Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Don Johnson and Brian Wilson. He also utilized the Space Gym in the Northridge, CA hospital to help physically rehabilitate young women recovering from anorexia nervosa. With the Orbital 360, Whitis is focused on helping Baby Boomers and seniors exercise safely and effectively. Wellness 360 is a research and development company run by Whitis and based in Scottsdale, Arizona. For more information, visit www.theorbital360.com.