Stories

Founders of FLYWHEELONE invented Flywheel Exercise technology (FWE) and develop cutting edge training equipment for Spaceflight, Professionals and Home gymers. Flywheel machines for leg press, squat and leg curl were initially developed by the inventors. Later, multiple exercise devices for sports, and physical rehabilitation have been added.

MILESTONES

* Modern Flywheel Exercise technology (FWE) for strength training was invented by the founder of Flywheelone AB, Stockholm Sweden: Hans E Berg, who also co-founded YoYo Technology/nHance AB in the 1990-ies.

* The patented FWE principle [Berg & Berg 1993] was licensed to European Space Agency (ESA) for the manufacturing of the first Flywheel-exercise device to be placed in space on ISS in 2008.

* Flywheel exercise technology is now adopted by NASA; Orion capsule for Moon travel, and the Chinese; Tiangong space station, to maintain astronaut health and fitness.

* Flywheelone AB is continuing its pioneering work by presenting the ultra-slim squat compatible with NASA/Orion size demands, and capable of solving the anti-vibration problem that plagues any exercise device for space vehicles.

* Our recent technology finally solves the problem of combining strength and endurance training using a single device, something that is considered the “holy Graal” of home fitness.

* Of course, there has been copycats along the way. Our original Squat (Berg/YoYo Technology 1998) became a world standard as replicated by several manufacturers.

* The Flywheelone vision is to develop innovative Flywheel exercise concepts, not only meeting the ultimate demands of Astronauts, but also those of Athletes, Home gymers and  Military professionals, demanding simply the best.

IN SPACE

Because inertial forces are not affected by gravity, flywheel exercise works equally well in weightlessness.

FULL STORY  -  See also Space & Defence

The first flywheel leg press dynamometer identified a 10% muscle weakness in astronauts after 17-days space shuttle flight (STS-78, 1996). A multi-gym flywheel system was evaluated for mechanical durability and efficacy on strength and mental health during a 4-month isolation study, simulating space station confinement (Moscow 1999). During a 3-month strict experimental bedrest study simulating weightlessness, a supine flywheel leg press proved effective to maintain muscle mass and strength and to attenuate bone loss (Toulouse, France 2001). A Flywheel resistive exercise device was also tested in short-term microgravity (parabolic flight) to test function and safety upon emergency release or breakage (ESA 35th Parabolic Flight Campaign Oct 14 2003).

A space-qualified flywheel resistance exercise device (FWED) was built by OHB Inc., Bremen, Germany for European Space agency (ESA) under the Berg patent. It was mounted inside the ISS Columbus laboratory module and subsequently  evaluated in experiments onboard the ISS in 2008- 2009. This FWED was the first non-electric device dedicated for resistance exercise on ISS. To evaluate effects on the structure of the enclosed space habitat, the transmitted loads and disturbances to the Columbus structure were measured.

A first flywheel exercise device for combined aerobic and strength training was developed by HE Berg. It was later confirmed to induce substantial endurance (aerobic) exercise responses. A modified version of this device induced both aerobic and musculoskeletal adaptations after 5 weeks of flywheel training. Moreover, during a NASA 70-day bedrest study simulating long-term spaceflight, the combined resistance and aerobic flywheel device could mitigate deconditioning effects on aerobic capacity, muscle strength as well as bone health.

Sjöberg and coworkers compared the biomechanical loads on knees, hips and lower back during knee-extension strength training in simulated weightlessness (supine leg press exercise), to the loads during standing back squat in normal gravity. One important finding was the difference in load distribution with elevated load on the lower back and shoulders during simulated spaceflight because of the need to compensate for the absence of load induced by lifting the  bodyweight; an important load when squatting on earth. The total load, using a harness to tolerate high loads to the trunk, was, however, maintained at about twice the body weight, which should suffice for effective resistance training.

Currently, the only permanent strength training device in space is the NASA Advanced resistive exercise device (ARED) on the International Space Station (ISS).

ELITE ATHLETES

Originally, flywheel exercise spread among professional soccer clubs, track and field teams, ice hockey players and alpine skiers and even got the attention of the gym industry. With the developed Flywheel Squat, Hamstring Curl, Abdominal, Seated Row and several other machines YoYo Technology AB of Sweden (Berg & Tesch co-founders) were driving the exploitation towards Sports, Rehab and Space medicine. Currently, multiple manufacturers worldwide produce a variety of flywheel exercise equipment.