Elderly fitness pull-up accessories

The core vulnerable accessories of the fitness puller for the elderly are mainly four categories: grip cover, elastic cord set, fixed buckle, and storage buckle. When purchasing, give priority to the adapted model with anti-slip texture, environmentally friendly soft rubber material, and load-bearing mark ≥3 times the user's own weight. Do not replace non-specific universal accessories at will, otherwise it will easily cause safety risks.

I have been working as a volunteer repairman at a community fitness station for the elderly for almost three years. I have touched at least seventy or eighty pulleys. I have seen too many elderly people fall and get hit because of the wrong accessories. I am not an alarmist. These gadgets costing more than a dozen yuan are really not careless.

Last week, Aunt Zhang from the third floor came to me with her barrel puller. She said that her hands always felt slippery when pulling recently. When I saw her grip, it was so smooth that the original texture was gone. She also said that she had bought a universal model online for 9 yuan and 9 pairs for a cheap price. It was as thin as a layer of candy wrapper, and it wore out within half a month of putting it on. She used it just fine, but when she pulled it last time, she didn't hold it firmly, and the rope bounced back and hit her arm, causing a big bruise. Many old people like to choose EVA foam grips when they first buy a barrel puller, which is soft and does not irritate the hand. I thought this was good at first, but later I found out that many foam grips had been used for more than half a year. They absorbed sweat and were stuffed inside. When I took them apart, they all had mold spots, and the residue was still stained on my hands. What I recommend to you now are the silicone models with a sweat-absorbent cotton layer embedded inside. They may not be as soft as foam to the touch at first, but they have a lychee anti-slip pattern and are not slippery even if you sweat. They will not wear out after a year or two of use. If you really like a soft feel, just put a thin cotton grip on the outside and get the best of both worlds.

The grip is in direct contact with the hand, and there is a core accessory hidden inside, which is the elastic cord. Among the ten pullers I have repaired, seven out of ten are broken because of the elastic cord. Many old people think that this thing is just a rubber band. If it breaks, just find a thicker rope and replace it. This is what Uncle Li who lived in Building 12 did last time. He found an unused bicycle inner tube and cut it into a long strip and replaced it. However, it collapsed on the third pull and bounced to the eyebrow bone. He needed three stitches. Now that he thinks about it, he is still scared. But that doesn’t mean you can’t change the accessories yourself. Uncle Wang in our building is a retired fitter and has very strong hands-on skills. Every time he changes the elastic rope, he chooses the latex model with a double layer of nylon braid. He also adds an extra break-proof protective cover. He replaces it on time every six months regardless of whether it is broken or not. He has used his puller for almost 4 years and has never had any problems. By the way, there are two ways to choose elastic ropes on the market. Elderly people who like to exercise in a planned way can choose according to the number of pounds. If they usually have a small amount of activity, choose 10-15 pounds. Those who exercise regularly can choose 20 pounds. If you are not sure, choose according to your age. If you are over 70 years old, choose one within 15 pounds. You are right. Don't be greedy for weight. Pulling hard will hurt your shoulders.

No matter how well-chosen the elastic cord is, it will be useless if the fastening buckles are loose. Many people don't pay attention to this gadget. Last time the community organized a safety inspection on the puller, I found that more than a dozen buckles were about to fall off. When the old man pulled hard, the rope came out directly, and it was not a trivial matter to hit him. There are two main types of buckles on the market now, the twist type and the push type. There has been debate before. Some people say that the twist type can be tightened tightly and will not loosen. However, many old people have weak hands and cannot tighten it in place, which is useless. Some patients with arthritis cannot use their fingers hard enough to twist it at all. Later, our station replaced everyone with a push-button model with a safety lock. When you press it, you can hear a "click" and it is locked. Even if you have weak hands, you can operate it. After using it for almost a year, there has never been a case where the buckle has become loose.

Oh, by the way, there is also an inconspicuous little accessory, which is the hanging buckle for storage. Many people think this is useless, but it is actually quite important. Many old people just throw the puller on the ground after using it, and it is easy to break the rope if they step on it. If there is a buckle, hang it on the door handle or balcony hook, and it can be used for a long time. Just choose a plastic buckle with a wide mouth. You don't have to buy a metal one, which will cause it to fall if it is too heavy.

I have been repairing the pull-up machine for so long, and my biggest feeling is that this thing is originally used for fitness for the elderly. There is no need to buy the most expensive accessories, and there is no need to add those fancy functions. An aunt asked me before if I wanted to add a counting accessory. I think it is really unnecessary. The original purpose is to move the muscles and bones, and it makes me tired to count the times. Before each use, take 30 seconds to check whether the handle is slippery, whether the rope has burrs, and whether the buckle is tight. This is better than anything else. When it comes to fitness, safety always comes first, right?