Excel Sports Science
Bringing a New Dimension to Water Workouts

When one hears the word ‘aquatic exercise’ or ‘water workout,’ the first thing that comes to mind is either a group of individuals swimming laps in the pool or older adults doing arm circles and water aerobics. But water workout is more than just that! Aquatic exercise has been deemed a popular way of keeping fit for years—particularly for people with certain health problems and those recovering from injury. Numerous studies indicate that everyone from pro athletes to stroke survivors can benefit from aquatic exercise that involves walking and running against the natural resistance of water to help build strength and endurance. Exercising in water offers an excellent form of physical therapy for people rehabilitating from hip, knee, and back injuries and surgeries.

Realizing the enormous potential this fitness trend holds, several businesses have created advanced water resistance equipment like barbells and bands to intensify the workout. A maven among them is Excel Sports Science, a health, wellness and fitness firm that has been helping athletes and individuals recover from injury or disability with its innovative water exercise equipment for over 20 years now. Excel manufactures, markets, and distributes its products and services to the athletic training, aqua aerobics, and aquatic rehabilitation markets under the AquaJogger brand. Lew Thorne, founder and president of Excel, says, “We started out to help athletes find the ideal combination of both land and water activity that maximizes their athletic performance and endurance while keeping them off the sidelines.” Today, the company focuses on delivering durable exercise equipment, including buoyancy belts, barbells, deltabells, and water-resistance footwear, which allow individuals to achieve the most effective workout, and improves their overall fitness and wellness.

Excel’s flagship product, the AquaJogger Buoyancy Belt, was originally developed as a water rehabilitation tool for pre- and post-surgery patients and world-class athletes recovering from injury. But it soon became the key that opened the door to the world of impact-free deep water exercise and an extraordinary training tool in maintaining the high levels of fitness.

AquaJogger supports 90 percent of an individual’s body weight while suspending them at shoulder level in the water

This soft, comfortable waist belt provides vertical buoyancy and keeps the user’s head above water, leaving the arms and legs free for aquatic exercise, pool sports, or other water therapy. AquaJogger supports 90 percent of an individual’s body weight while suspending them at shoulder level in the water. “Hence, a user can burn twice the calories while promoting balanced muscular toning. This low impact cardiovascular conditioning is perfect for someone who is healing an injury to tendons, ligaments, muscles or joints,” adds Thorne. What’s more is the device features adjustable elastic belts with quick-release buckles, high back support, and contoured front. When worn, it does not inhibit arm strokes and promotes the correct swim position. It can also be used seamlessly in shallow water. The firm also provides water-resistant deltabells, which are triangular-shaped dumbbells that add stability, intensity, and diversity to deep or shallow water workout. This water-resistant hand buoys feature premium EVA foam with comfortable, soft padded grip and will not roll away at poolside.

Another notable aspect of Excel is its comfortable flotation sandal, ExerSandal, which is designed to be worn in the pool, while adding flotation and resistance to deep and shallow water routines. ExerSandal, Thorne remarks, “brings a new dimension to water workouts by adding resistance and flotation to deep water running and exercise, and saves the feet from abrasive pool bottoms during shallow water activity.” The sandals feature slip-resistant, quick-drying closed minicell sole that prevents users from slipping by the pool. Furthermore, it comes with easy on and off with snap releases, and adjusts at the forefoot, midfoot, and ankle for a custom fit, and stays on foot during rapid cycling and sprinting. “In a nutshell, all of our products remove the limitations that impact and weight bearing bring to one’s rehabilitation and fitness efforts when water running and workouts are combined with land based programs,” states Thorne. Besides, Excel’s offerings go beyond enhancing rehabilitation efforts to prevent weight-bearing issues and fat issues for people of all age groups.

The next step for Excel is to continue developing innovative and affordable water-resistant exercising equipment that opens new doors to fitness, health, and mobility. “Whether your goal is to build strength and endurance, increase body tone, lose weight, or speed recovery from illness or injury, innovating the ideal combination of land and water activities will achieve success that land based activities alone cannot,” wraps up Thorne.