Navigation
  • Shop
    • All Products
    • NOVA Gym
    • OYO Personal Gym
    • Program Downloads
    • Bags
    • Mats
    • Basic Upgrade Kit
  • Programs
    • NOVA Gym 10 Week Challenge
    • NOVA Gym 28 Day Beginner
    • NOVA Gym 30 Day Standard
    • OYO Gym 10 Week Challenge
    • 10 Week Challenge Results
  • Videos
    • Setup Videos
    • NOVA Gym Exercise Clips
    • NOVA Gym Workout Videos
    • OYO Gym Exercise Clips
    • OYO Gym Workout Videos
  • Technology
  • News
  • Team
Account
  • Sign In
  • Register
  • EN
  • FR
  • DE
  • £
  • €
  • $
  • Sign In
    Login Form

  • Register
    Register Form

    NOTE: Email addresses must be entered in all lowercase. Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy

Site logo
  • Shop
    • All Products
    • NOVA Gym
    • OYO Personal Gym
    • Program Downloads
    • Bags
    • Mats
    • Basic Upgrade Kit
  • Programs
    • NOVA Gym 10 Week Challenge
    • NOVA Gym 28 Day Beginner
    • NOVA Gym 30 Day Standard
    • OYO Gym 10 Week Challenge
    • 10 Week Challenge Results
  • Videos
    • Setup Videos
    • NOVA Gym Exercise Clips
    • NOVA Gym Workout Videos
    • OYO Gym Exercise Clips
    • OYO Gym Workout Videos
  • Technology
  • News
  • Team
0
Cart: $0.00

No products in the cart.

Search
Paul Francis Space Technology Hall of Fame
View large
Uncategorized

OYO Fitness & Founder Paul Francis Inducted Into the Space Technology Hall of Fame

OYO Fitness founder Paul Francis has been inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame for inventing SpiraFlex resistance technology and producing NASA’s first resistive exercise devices. SpiraFlex has been spun off to power the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym and the OYO Personal Gym.

Long stays in space, such as on the ISS, take a toll on the human body, as muscles atrophy and bones weaken and lose minerals. Astronauts have long used exercise equipment to help mitigate the effects of microgravity on their bodies. But as NASA astronaut Shannon Lucid found in 1996 after a six-month stay on the Mir space station, the station’s stationary bike and treadmill were insufficient to prevent muscle and bone loss. A resistive exercise device was needed. The challenge was that the best solution on Earth was weight training but that required gravity.

Before the first crew arrived on the ISS, NASA required a more effective countermeasure for muscular-skeletal degradation. At that time, Dr. Roger Billica was the chief of the Medical Operations Branch at NASA Johnson. Muscle strengthening using resistive exercise equipment seemed to be the best solution.

Dr. Billica put out a request for design ideas to meet the needs of exercise in zero-gravity. Many design ideas were submitted, both from outside companies and from within NASA. Dr. Billica put together a solutions team to evaluate the proposed designs.

One of the submissions came from Paul Francis. His idea was to use a rubber elastomer wound into disks called FlexPacks. The concept, later branded SpiraFlex, provided a linear resistance that could be used on a custom designed exercise machine that simulated working with free weights. Working with NASA Johnson Space Center’s Life Sciences and engineering teams, SpiraFlex Inc. created the Interim Resistive Exercise Device (iRED).  NASA physiologist Michael Rapley was instrumental in the IRED’s development and its deployment to the ISS. Mike helped collaborate efforts between Paul’s hardware design and NASA’s engineering and Life Sciences teams.

Using their patented SpiraFlex technology of molded elastomeric spiral disks. Once connected to a spiral pulley, the discs provided linear resistance up to 300 lbs. While on-orbit, crew members could complete daily exercise protocols, including squats to load the spine, hips and legs, which are most affected by microgravity.

A NASA sponsored 16-week study showed that the SpiraFlex iRED provided comparable results to using free-weights. iRED was the first resistive exercise system built specifically for space. It was installed on the ISS in 2000 with the first long-duration crew. It proved so effective it was used on the station until 2009 when the vibration isolated Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) was ready.

The patent owner, Paul Francis, assigned his patents to SpiraFlex Inc., which in turn licensed the technology to Nautilus Inc., who has since developed and markets their Bowflex Revolution home gym, and to OYO Fitness LLC. Today OYO Fitness has developed and markets OYO Personal Gym for individual use. The primary advantage of using SpiraFlex technology on Earth is that users can obtain the same benefits of weight training without the need for heavy cumbersome weights and related equipment.

Share Post
Previous
Super 7 Exercises
Next
SpiraFlex Technology Spurs Revolution in Home Fitness

Related posts

More details
Arms, NOVA Gym Exercise Clips, Stationary Bike, Uncategorized, Upper Body

Alternating Bicep Curl While Pedaling

December 13, 2020 at 12:38 pm by Sonya Andrews
...
More details
Uncategorized

SpiraFlex Technology Spurs Revolution in Home Fitness

May 7, 2019 at 8:44 am by Sonya Andrews

…

More details
News, Uncategorized

Startland News Features the OYO Personal Gym PRO

October 9, 2018 at 11:02 am by Sonya Andrews

Last week, OYO Fitness was featured in Startland News, discussing the launch of the OYO Personal Gym PRO and OYO Coaching App.

More details
Diet and Nutrition, Fitness, Uncategorized

14 Fitness Tips to Keep You On Track With Your Goals

August 14, 2018 at 12:06 pm by Nick Bolton

Sick of falling off your fitness plan? Check out my 14 simple fitness tips that will keep you focused, motivated, and making progress!

More details
Fitness, OYO Personal Gym, Products, Uncategorized

A Travel Workout Routine Might Seem Impossible — It’s Not

July 27, 2018 at 5:21 pm by Sonya Andrews

…

Products

  • NOVA Gym

    $199.95
  • OYO Personal Gym - Total Body Package

    $149.95
  • OYO Personal Gym - Basic Package

    $124.95
  • OYO Gym Shoulder Bag

    $39.95
  • OYO Exercise Mat

    $39.95

OUR COMPANY


  • Team
  • SpiraFlex Technology
  • News + Press

CUSTOMER SERVICE


  • Contact Us
  • Distribution Inquiry Form
  • Become an Affiliate

INFO


  • FAQs
  • Downloads
  • Kickstarter Exercise Deck Games
  • Warranties + Money-Back Guarantee

LEGAL


  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

©2021 OYO Fitness, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
This merchant is located in the U.S., 16620 Stagg St, Van Nuys, CA 91406

Search engine

Use this form to find things you need on this site