New Nautilus QUICKfit Center opened in Palm Desert

Rancho Physical Therapy has teamed up with Med-Fit Systems, Inc. to open a new Nautilus QUICKfit Center, in Palm Desert, California.

Med-Fit Systems, Inc., a leader in medical and commercial fitness systems and manufacturer of Nautilus fitness equipment, has partnered up with Rancho Physical Therapy, part of the Optimis physical therapy group, to open a private practice and fitness and rehabilitation centre in Palm Desert, California.

The new QUICKfit Center uses the Nautilus QUICKfit system as an integral part of the physical therapy and rehabilitation program at the facility. The system serves as a link in the health care system for seniors, people with special needs, discharged patients, and fitness enthusiasts who feel out of place in regular fitness and health clubs.

The Nautilus QUICKfit program helps people get better results by exercising for 45 minutes or less three times a week. It provides them with a safe, efficient and motivating workout regime that helps them improve strength and reach their fitness goals with a minimal risk of injury. Participants typically report a reduction in body fat, improvement in muscle tone, a better resting metabolic rate and better overall cardiovascular health after only eight weeks.

"Physical therapists and their staffs have the expertise and education to properly dose exercise to this largely underserved population," said Dean Sbragia, Med-Fit Systems CEO, in a statement. "And the QUICKfit program, designed by leading exercise physiologists and rehabilitation professionals, is dosed through the QUICKfit app, available through the Apple App Store. This program provides a progressive, goal-oriented system that safely prompts the exerciser to continuous improvement."

The QUICKfit strength training program typically consists of three sets of 10-12 reps and 15-second sets of actual body part workouts, with 30 or more seconds of rest in between. This means that muscles are under tension for about 45 seconds every 2 minutes and 15 seconds. Participants reach their fitness goals by progressing through 10 fitness levels, and the program allows them to achieve 40 percent more muscular tension in half the time.

Med-Fit Systems has 24 years of experience in physical therapy, rehabilitation, and senior care products. The company acquired the commercial fitness division from Nautilus in 2010 and brought back the manufacturing of Nautilus commercial cardio equipment and freeweights back from China to the United States, to their Independence facility in Virginia. Since the acquisition, Med-Fit Systems has been successful in resurrecting the Nautilus brand.

"In addition to having the biggest presence of any strength manufacturer in commercial fitness, Nautilus has great success in the long term care and senior living space, with well over 1,000 installations and millions of resident and patient-exercise sessions – all without reported injury and with proven cost of care reduction and health care benefits," Sbragia added.

Rancho Physical Therapy had more than 230,000 visits across 21 offices in southern California last year. They strongly advise their patients to keep exercising after completing their physical therapy programs. The patients are encouraged to continue their exercise regime either through home programs or in supervised centres.

Bill Atkins, PT, OCS, CSCS, founder and President of Rancho Physical Therapy, said, "The discharge interview provides us an opportunity to discuss the benefits of a lifestyle change to our patients, including participation in our Nautilus QUICKfit program, nutritional counselling, body composition analysis and balance training to help prevent falls. We know that if we keep our patients engaged and active in their own health program, they will continue to be members in this environment. They tend to be loyal if they return as patients, but in general enjoy a much more active and satisfying life."

John Wait, DPT and COO of Rancho PT added, "This model also provides the private practice physical therapist an opportunity to grow their third party and cash based practice, utilizing their existing facilities and staff. Our proprietary Optimis software suite facilitates the process."