By RINDY METCALF

Staff Writer

Tech students are traveling the country to showcase a new exercise "wand" for its inventor. According to Rebecca McCann, a senior kinesiology and health promotions major, the Future-Flex is a plastic five-foot pole with foam handles.

McCann is one of the student researchers of the "wand."

James Heimdal, an associate professor and head of the department of health and physical education, participated in the research for the exercise wand with the students.

Heimdal said he, two other professors and four students presented results from the comprehensive project at the Louisiana Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Nov. 14 in Baton Rouge.

There they met John Holleman, the inventor.

"The purpose of the Flex wand includes the development of an exercise apparatus that enhances muscular strength and endurance, is cost-effective and fun to use," Heimdal said.

Phase one of the project included students and faculty working together to develop potential exercises utilizing the wand.

"This included a biomedical analysis of all movements and included the specific muscle involvement and joint actions for all potential exercises," Heimdal said.

Phase two of the project involved the analysis of the metabolic demand of utilizing the Future-Flex during an aerobic dance routine and also the comparison of those findings with walking.

Heimdal said they also conducted a psychological evaluation of the exercise intensity.

McCann said she had done research last summer on similar equipment.

It was her experience that allowed her to experiment with the wand.

"One of the girls developed a dance routine using the Flex wand and one without the Flex wand and compared those to walking," McCann said.

McCann said the Future-Flex is used as a resistance apparatus, and it burned 7.5 more calories than walking.

Morris said the wand is used to work the biceps, triceps and pectoral muscles.

McCann said the research was presented using computer slideshow presentations about their research and a question-and-answer portion with the audience.

They also used a demonstration of the apparatus, video and hands-on activities for the audience during the presentation.

Charles Cicciarella, a professor of health and exercise sciences, also participated in the research.

His job was to get a picture of what people thought about the device for the manufacturer.

"[I] conducted interviews with focus groups of 10 to 12 people and allowed them to explore the device," Cicciarella said.

Cicciarella asked the group questions related to buyer interest and usefulness of the device.

Heimdal said the students are scheduled to present the wand at the Northeast American College of Sports Medicine regional meeting in Atlanta in January.

They will also present it at the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance meeting in New Orleans in March.

The students are scheduled to participate in the National Conference on Girls' and Women's Health, Physical Activity and Sport in Shreveport in the spring.

Lindsey Bergeron, a junior speech communications major, said she was very interested in Future-Flex.

"It's a newer device and a different technique than doing something like walking the treadmill every day."