Pumping Platinum

Patrons at Functional Fitness aren't out to get buff like a twenty-something. Instead, their goal is to stave off the effects of aging and disease on their hearts, muscles and joints. They are not there to lift hundreds of pounds or run a marathon. “I want to be able to carry a bag of cement into my back yard without getting hurt or go up a ladder without falling,” says one of the regulars.

Belatedly, the nation's fitness industry is catching on to the fact that older Americans are its fastest-growing market segment – and redesigning workout programs and equipment to meet their needs and goals.

The number of over-55 health and fitness club members has increaed nearly sixfold since 1993, to 10.2 million, according to a recent study by IHRSA. “In the old days it was the same cookie-cutter workout for young and old,” says Tom Strafaci, 54, the owner of Functional Fitness. Instead of pumping up clients' biceps, Strafaci and other enlightened personal trainers devise regimens that protect bones against osteoporosis, improve flexibility and enable older people to maintain their balance and avoid falls. “We're working to restore and maintain function,” Strafaci says, “not to create high-end athletes.” Fitness equipment is increasingly being designed with users' physical limitations in mind, according to Mike Rotz of Life-Fitness, the nation's largest manufacturer of commercial cardio-vascular and strength-training equipment. Some fitness clubs also are striving for an ambiance that makes older users more comfortable, according to Colin Milner of the International Council on Active Aging. “The idea is to make the gym less intimidating,” he says. They're getting rid of the mirrors and loud music.