During the civil war period and the First World War (WWI), physical education was expanded across the United States impacting fitness and being able to improve the structure and function for anything a man may be called upon to do (Powers & Howley, 2011). Dr. Dudley Allen Sargent (1849 – 1924) was an early innovator and considered to be ahead of his time in physical education. Hired by Harvard University in 1879 to set up physical training programs, Dr. Sargent developed types of physical education programs in schools resembling pre-military programs, due to the large numbers of draftees that failed the induction exams in the mental and physical area (Powers & Howley, 2011).
Dr. Sargent was one of the first creators of systematic methods for mechanized physical training. He helped make possible the quantum advances in athletic performance that have resulted from twentieth-century machines such as the SB II racing bike or the Cybex training system (De la Peña, 2003). Currently, there are machines with the pulley system and adjustable weights, thanks to his inspiration. For example, Dr. Sargent's basic chest-weight machine simply consisted of stacks of weights, two cables …show more content…
Sargent’s contributions are important to the field of exercise science because they can be useful to everyone. Weak and disabled individuals can use these machines in various types of rehabilitation processes. The machines provide support as compared to using “free weights”. Dr. Sargent started something that has evolved over the years becoming better and more advanced, but still holding the basic concept of pulley and adjustable weight systems. Professional athletes benefit from this with special equipment being made to make help condition the body to become faster and stronger. People at home can even benefit from such workout machines. Through television advertisement consumers are targeted to buy machines that use pulley systems and adjustable weights to aid in better physical
Dr. Sargent was one of the first creators of systematic methods for mechanized physical training. He helped make possible the quantum advances in athletic performance that have resulted from twentieth-century machines such as the SB II racing bike or the Cybex training system (De la Peña, 2003). Currently, there are machines with the pulley system and adjustable weights, thanks to his inspiration. For example, Dr. Sargent's basic chest-weight machine simply consisted of stacks of weights, two cables …show more content…
Sargent’s contributions are important to the field of exercise science because they can be useful to everyone. Weak and disabled individuals can use these machines in various types of rehabilitation processes. The machines provide support as compared to using “free weights”. Dr. Sargent started something that has evolved over the years becoming better and more advanced, but still holding the basic concept of pulley and adjustable weight systems. Professional athletes benefit from this with special equipment being made to make help condition the body to become faster and stronger. People at home can even benefit from such workout machines. Through television advertisement consumers are targeted to buy machines that use pulley systems and adjustable weights to aid in better physical