The three most important components of an ideal exercise program include:

• Cardio

• Resistance Training

• Flexibility

Fitness experts agree that the squat is the most important exercise in a resistance program. However, squatting with a bar across your back and neck is not ideal. Proper technique is difficult to achieve and the barbell squat results in the compression of the spine and creates a great deal of torque on the shoulders. BandTrax works the largest muscle groups: glutes, quadriceps and hamstrings better than the barbell squat as it takes the back and shoulders out of the equation and instead of compressing the back, you actually traction it throughout the exercise.

Why does BandTrax use only bands instead of free weights? The “Stretch Bands” were developed in the 1980’s for flexibility. It’s creator, Dick Hartzell decided to term his program as “Dynamic Stretching”. Dick’s bands were used by all the major league sports teams, the major colleges and a large number of High Schools. Legendary Strength and Conditioning coach Louie Simmons introduced the bands to the sport of powerlifting which revolutionized the sport. A muscle can move in a concentric phase whereby the muscle shortens, an eccentric phase whereby the muscle elongates or an isometric phase where the muscle does neither and the muscle maintains its length. Eccentric training is done as a mainstay in Physical Therapy. Eccentric movements can be done slowly or dynamically. Let’s take the bench press as an example. You can lower more weight to your chest than you can push away from your chest. Louie Simmons did studies on eccentric training and found that the bands by themselves moved the bar more quickly than when combined with weights. BandTrax can provide some interesting aerobic programs. You can easily move around on the BandTrax platform with the belt providing resistance. You can mimic walking, marching, step-ups, boxing, rowing, wrestling, golfing, tennis, baseball, soccer and just about anything else you can imagine. The big advantage of the BandTrax squat over the barbell squat is the ability to activate your hip flexors unlike any other exercise.

Many athletes use the medicine ball to squat down and while coming up, rotating the hips and throwing the ball to their partner. Now imagine doing that same exercise with the BandTrax belt pulling down on your body as you move in every and any direction. The band resistance is easy to alter. With a bar and weights, you need to either remove or add weights. With the bands, you can step away from the band, thereby getting an increase in resistance or stepping back to the band thereby reducing the band resistance. You also have the option of adding bands. If you do the bench press exercise and move the bar and weight quickly, imagine the jolt that your shoulders will feel. Now do the same movement combining bands and weights. As you approach lockout, the bands cushion the lockout. Doing bands without weights allows for even more cushioning and a quicker movement.

Remember, moving resistance quickly is the best way to produce power and every sport needs power.

BandTrax as Home Gym

BandTrax - The All In One Solution

The last big thing to hit the exercise industry was High Intensity Interval Training aka: HIIT.

Welcome to the next best thing, Cardiac-Aerobic-Resistance-Training aka: CART.

It’s already been established that the ideal exercise program involves cardio and resistance. Why not do both simultaneously and save time?

If you are familiar with or already utilizing HIIT, you can take it to the next level with BandTrax! Try doing some step-ups on BandTrax and at the same time, do some chest presses or flies.

{How about doing some partner walking around the neighborhood. Tie three bands together, light-average. One band around the waist of you and your partner and one band in between. Now lets attach some micro or mini bands around the middle band and place them in the hands of the person in the lead position. As they walk they are basically trying to pull you along. You control how quickly they move. At the same time, they can do some chest presses or flies. When you get tired, switch positions. The key to the value of stretch bands is their variable resistance. The more they stretch, the more resistance they apply. That will work your heart much more so than the average walk.} won't work.

To understand how to utilize BandTrax in order to take advantage of its unique characteristics, view our videos below which will illustrate all the stretches one can do with the bands.

How often do you see an athlete go down with a sprained ankle? We will show you the best stretch to strengthen your ankles and virtually eliminate the chance of spraining your ankle. Our abductor-adductor exercise is awesome.

Next time you go on vacation and want to work out, take a few bands. Study our videos to see all the exercises you can do with bands, it’s virtually anything that you can do with weights.

"BandTrax provides unique benefits for both performance and rehabilitation.

This innovative equipment allows for a variety of comprehensive strengthening protocols, eccentric training, dynamic stability, and coordination training.

The notable loading features of this machine may help avoid

compression of the spinal column during training and recovery."

- Maggie P.

Bandtrax transformed my fitness journey! The vertical back traction machine effectively relieved my back pain and the full gym setup is incredibly versatile. Highly recommend!

Jordan M.

★★★★★

As a mom who spends most of the day carrying my baby around, my back was starting to feel awful. The constant strain really took a toll on me. After trying BandTrax, I was amazed at the immediate relief it provided. I felt a huge improvement right after using it! it really helped to take the pressure off my back and gave me some much-needed relief. I highly recommend for anyone dealing with back pain from lifting or carrying heavy loads!

Bella C.

★★★★★