Aerobics

Aerobics

Dancing to music for fitness – largely developed by Jacki Sorenson in late 60’s – include a mixture of running, jumping, hopping, skipping, dance steps etc. Most gyms/fitness centres offer a variety of types of classes with different levels of intensity – these can be high impact, low impact, step, use hand weights etc. In low impact aerobics, one foot remains in contact with the ground at all times, whereas in high impact aerobics there are more explosive high energy movements with an airborne phase.

Injury rates as high as 80% have been reported in instructors – some may be doing several sessions a day. High impact forces have to be absorbed by the lower extremity.
Most injuries in knee, leg and foot.

Floor surfaces
Usually concrete or wooden covered with carpet. Francis et al (1985) – reported injury rates to be higher on concrete floors covered by carpet, followed by wood-over-airspace floor covered with padded carpet. The lowest rate was on concrete floors that were heavily padded and covered with carpet.

Footwear:
Due to high impact forces that need to be absorbed, the shoes should assist in meeting this need. Different shoes are needed to be used in aerobics, but very little is available specifically for aerobics. Most people tend to wear running shoes (designed for unidirectional motion) or tennis shoes (designed for multidirectional motion). Most shoes designed for aerobics are a mixing of the technologies from running and tennis shoes  makes them a good all round “fitness shoe”.