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THE AXIO STORY
AXIO Centripetal Training was created by Ted Bezemer, an orthopedic Physical Therapist and strength coach based in Park City, Utah with nearly thirty years experience rehabilitating and training athletes of all levels.
THE AXIO STORY
AXIO Centripetal Training was created by Ted Bezemer, an orthopedic Physical Therapist and strength coach based in Park City, Utah with nearly thirty years experience rehabilitating and training athletes of all levels. Several years ago, Ted severely injured his shoulder in a hockey game. Although a surgical repair was recommended, he wanted to explore other solutions knowing that surgery should be an option of last resort.
Need Strength and Control
Traditional training and rehabilitation approaches that only focus on range of motion and strength have limited benefit. While these are essential for mechanical joint stability, they only solve part of the problem. The other component – one that is often overlooked - is restoring and maximizing neuromuscular control. This is the body’s ability to reactively sense and modulate force for dynamic stability and efficient movement. This applies to every joint in the body, but is particularly evident with the shoulder, due its design and mobility. With this as a guiding principle, the search was on for ways to simultaneously improve both mechanical stability (strength) and dynamic stability (neuromuscular control).
Exploration Leads to Invention
A more substantial and challenging device could provide progressive benefits not only for rehab, but also for higher-level training and performance. Most training techniques primarily involve managing resistance in only a single direction or plane of motion. To make it more reactive and challenging, Ted focused on a concept of combining gravitational resistance, like that of a free weight, with an angular resistance. The combination creates a force-multiplier that simultaneously challenges strength and control. It quickly became apparent that training results could be achieved in far less time, using lighter loads and with minimal joint compressive force. Ted termed the use of combining these forces as Centripetal Training.
Early Prototypes and Unexpected Feedback
After constructing what seemed to be an endless number of prototypes, Ted figured out the materials and design that worked best. The early examples were no visions of beauty, but they proved the concept worked…and even better than originally envisioned. He avoided shoulder surgery and resumed lifting weights, playing hockey and other sports without any limitations. Training clients would ask to use the prototypes for their shoulders, upper back, core and even for conditioning intervals. They liked that it was different, challenging, worked really fast, and was actually kind of fun. The feedback prompted Ted to construct an even better, high quality, commercial-grade device for use in professional training and fitness applications. After a three-year journey of injury, analysis, inspiration and experimentation, the result is AXIO Centripetal Training.