Many people go to the gym in order to lose weight, achieve their ideal body shape, or work towards their fitness goals, whether doctors require them or they just want to feel good about themselves. Health clubs offer many different ways of improving one’s overall health, including tracking progress for muscle weight and lean mass concerns. Still, body scanning and the science behind body scanners are captivating many health and fitness enthusiasts.
Through the use of 3D body scanning technology, health and fitness industry professionals are now able to help their clients shed fat, build muscle, improve posture, reduce injuries and see improvements not previously thought possible.
Fitness clubs across the country are rushing to implement full-body scanners based on imaging technologies that “see” areas where excess body fat is stored. The machines do not take x-rays or ultrasounds but instead, show computer images based on radio frequencies. Even gyms located in small towns like Three Rivers, Michigan (pop: 1,700) offer state-of-the-art equipment and tools because they realize that many people who live in rural communities want the same amenities as those living in larger cities. This makes fitness experts make their jobs so much easier.
How the Growing Trend of Body Scanning Technology Works in Body Fat
The machines work by sending radio waves to different parts of the body, depending on the type of scan. This process is similar to an airport metal detector scanning for weapons or other harmful objects. As the waves bounce back, they are detected and analyzed to produce pictures that identify fat bulges in specific areas.
Although many trainers use 3D imaging equipment (most commonly known as DEXA) for research purposes, others offer it directly to their clients with detailed results.
Some people believe the future for 3D body scanners lies in their use as preventive or early detection tools for disease states such as diabetes and cardiovascular problems. It holds great potential for identifying diseases earlier than ever before.
In fact, a recent study conducted by the Stanford University School of Medicine on 3D imaging technology revealed that it is safe for patients with heart issues and can be used as a non-invasive tool to monitor the heart’s condition. In addition, studies have also shown the effectiveness of DEXA in detecting osteoporosis in women before they suffer bone fractures from weak bones.
These technological leaps in health, fitness, and technology will likely have an enormous impact, especially on the sports industry. Although many people believe that sports and technology don’t mix, the reality is that sports physiques and technological innovations go hand in hand. As a matter of fact, many college football programs already use 3D scanners to monitor changes in athletes’ bodies throughout a season. Coaches use this information to adjust a player’s personal training plan based on their body composition and performance.
How Fitness Professionals Find this Useful in Body Composition
3D body scanners are proven to be very helpful in terms of checking someone’s body composition. 3D body scanners changed the health and fitness industry by reducing the time required to understand a client’s needs for training programs, making personal training more effective by identifying specific areas of need, potentially earlier detection of disease/illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular problems through early cellular changes within the body. The sports industry was able to successfully use this technology to monitor athletes’ progress throughout the season.
And for some people who want to start working out but have no idea where to start, these scanners are a good starting point to help them determine the best workout for them. Moreover, body scanning can also be helpful for people who have specific injuries or problems that need to be worked on because trainers and doctors can see the problem areas and work accordingly.
The Pros & Cons of 3D Body Scanning
Pros of 3D Body Scanning
Some of the benefits of body scanning include reduced time for personal trainers to analyze clients’ needs, early detection of diseases, helping people get a jumpstart on their fitness journey, and allowing both trainers and doctors to see potential problem areas better and treat them before they become serious.
Aside from these, body scanning also offers highly targeted training plans designed to challenge muscles in new ways, which is beneficial for those trying to recover from injuries or muscle problems that need more attention than just general training exercises.
Cons of 3D Body Scanning
One of the downsides to using a 3D body scanner is the price, which is not typically covered by health insurance. Also, the scanners can only determine someone’s level of fitness when combined with other available information.
Another downside is that it may be uncomfortable for some people who dislike having their bodies scrutinized in such a personal way. For this reason, clients tend to feel more confident in their trainer’s knowledge to devise workout plans that meet their specific needs.
Third, some people believe that training with 3D scanners is not really important or simply a method to sell extra items and services. This is because there are people who took advantage of the technology, making their customers check out the scanners by charging them extra money to get personal training recommendations instead of providing true service.
3D Body Scanners: What Are Their Applications in Wellness?
In the wellness industry, 3D body scanners have been used to check someone’s overall well-being. The best place to see this technology in action for fitness purposes would be at a gym or training facility that offers personal trainers.
At these locations, people are offered the chance to step inside a scanner while their body measurements (height, weight, arm length) are taken and uploaded into computer software. This allows the trainer to analyze the person’s data and determine whether they need general conditioning or more specific exercise plans based on their goals.
Some gyms even use 3D scanning to motivate members by giving incentives like gift cards if they allow themselves to be scanned.
For wellness purposes, one of the major benefits of using this technology is seeing the changes that your body goes through based on different exercise routines. This is valuable information for those trying to lose weight or improve their health because it can be a concrete display of progress, rather than just simple steps on a scale.
In any case, tracking your fitness journey from start to finish is always helpful since it allows you to understand what works and what doesn’t work for your body. With this knowledge, you can then apply these insights into future workouts and develop achievable goals over time.
Final Thoughts
Although there are some cons to these 3D body scanners, they have been a huge help for the health and fitness industry as a whole because of their many benefits. They provide quick solutions to people’s problems, specifically those with injuries or diseases that need to be treated right away.
At the same time, these scanners are able to provide clients with personalized training plans that can help them achieve their fitness goals in a shorter amount of time since they’re able to see what areas need more attention. After all, wouldn’t you want to go somewhere where you know the trainers are properly equipped to meet your needs?
Considering all that’s been said, we can definitely conclude that 3D body scanners are here to stay and will continue to grow in popularity. We see more people accepting that it is important to use this technology to maintain their health and well-being.
BLOG AUTHOR
Raj Sareen
Raj Sareen is the CEO and Co-founder of Styku, a 3D body scanning and body shape analysis system for health, fitness, and wellness professionals. He is also a physicist, with a background in extra-solar planetary astronomy and once worked in the Human Space Flight Program at NASA. You can connect with him on LinkedIn.