Building on its storied heritage and commitment to innovation and design, The Rockport Company has introduced, a new evolutionary footwear collection featuring adidas TORSION® System technology.

The new collection, with men’s dress, casual and outdoor looks, brings a new level of comfort to the lifestyle shoe market. It combines advanced-technology engineered for athletic footwear with modern, sophisticated style.

First launched by adidas in 1989 and worn by top professional athletes around the world, TORSION is a lightweight arch support allowing the shoe to closely mimic the natural twisting movement of the foot during each step.

With the new technology in place, the forefoot and rearfoot of the Rockport collection will move independently for better stability and support. TORSION will work in conjunction with Rockport’s unique Dynamic Suspension™ technology, which offers air-based cushioning, to deliver superior comfort and enhance the in-shoe experience.

At its launch, the Rockport with adidas TORSION System collection will include 25-30 styles. Prices are expected to range from £60 - £100. The new line will be available at specialty retailers and premium independent stores in September.

Polar Electro UK have introduced a range of new look heart rate monitors that will help complete any workout experience in style. By combining attractive looks with their most innovative features, Polar have created their popular range of fitness monitors in fresh and exciting new colours.

Dispelling the myth that heart rate monitors are only for elite athletes, Polar’s impressive looking monitors have been developed to allow all exercisers to train in style and at a heart rate that is beneficial and effective to them and their personal needs.

Reinforcing their commitment to personalised training, Polar’s new range of F4, F6 and F11 exercise motivators will not only assist but also compliment a workout.

By incorporating their trademark features with attractive new looks, Polar have developed their fitness monitors in 10 new vibrant colours. As the ultimate training partner for anyone challenging themselves to new fitness levels or working on weight loss goals, these new look monitors will enhance workout effectiveness and improve training results, accented with cool design.

Including features for planning, monitoring and analyzing your workout, Polar’s fitness monitors are one of the most effective motivational tools to own.

Recording and reading the instant and accurate feedback on the calories being burnt, how the body is responding to exercise and the intensity of the training, is the best way to keep you going. From one glance at the stylish wrist unit users will know if they are burning fat or building stamina through their tailored cardio workout programme.

Available now in attractive new colours including: electrifying Pink Fizz, Red Fire, Blue Glow, Green Tea and Blue Gold, these innovative monitors will surely help to ensure exercisers achieve their fitness goals.

Our fitness levels have reached an all-time low, a survey reveals.

It found that half of us cannot touch our toes - and the majority could not cycle for 20 minutes or manage 20 sit-ups.

Although none of this may sound life-threatening, experts believe there could be serious consequences.

Fred Turok, chairman of the LA Fitness gym chain which commissioned the research, said: “Fitness levels in this country are reaching danger levels - not being able to touch your toes sounds laughable, but it is really a national tragedy.

Click here for full report.

Kettler has added 4 new machines to their selection of cross trainers that include the MONDEO ST CROSS TRAINER, the CTR 3 CROSS TRAINER, the VITO EXT CROSS TRAINER and the NORDIC TRAINER.

Earlier this month we featured the all new Nordic Trainer, but today we have a look at the Mondeo ST Cross Trainer.

The MONDEO ST is a good all-round cross trainer that works all major muscle groups. It is fitted with high quality double ball bearings and the rear disk joints have quality pendulum ball bearings which ensure a smooth action. It has a 15 stage resistance setup which is generated by a motorised magnetic-brake system.

The display console is a high resolution LCD with twin display. The graphic display shows load profile while the digital display provides details of load stage, stride rate, speed, distance covered per session, total distance covered, energy consumption, pulse rate, exercising pulse rate with percentage display of set upper limit, recovery pulse rate with general fitness mark between 1 and 6.

You can get your average values at end of training session for pulse rate, speed, and stride rate. There are many different pre-exercise settings which can easily be entered on the sweat-proof foil keypad.

The computer can automatically set an exercising pulse range depending on training target and performance level (fit/fat/manual). It will display your heart rate as a percentage display of current pulse rate with reference to your maximum pulse rate. Pulse measurement is by hand sensors or ear clip. Cardio pulse set is available as optional accessory

There are 8 different training programs to choose from including pulse-rate controlled training.

RRP £550

Consumers have been warned that drinking coffee while taking paracetamol could increase their risk of liver damage

Scientists found caffeine triples the amount of a toxic by-product created when the pain killer is broken down. The toxin is the same as the one responsible for liver damage and liver failure in toxic reactions involving alcohol and paracetamol.

Health experts have warned for years that drinking excess alcohol while taking paracetamol can trigger a toxic interaction and could cause liver failure, or even death. Click here for full report.

The new Bodylink® System from Timex is the total package when it comes to helping you achieve your training goals. Regardless of whether you’re working to become fitter or training for a particular target time, the Timex Bodylink® System can help you achieve your goal.

Improvements on the first generation Bodylink® System include four linked interval timers, which can be used in conjunction with heart rate or just as a timing device. Additionally, the new 3D GPS unit is smaller and lighter, suitable for all types of weather, built-up and wooded areas.

The predictive finish timer allows you to train and compete at the correct pace for your target time. The unit is constantly updating indicating whether you should speed up or slow down.

With the summary mode the Bodylink® System allows you to review altitude, speed, distance and heart rate performance data at end of each workout. Whilst exercising the 3Line LCD displays Speed, Heart Rate, Lap Pace, Distance and Ascent Rate in various customisable formats.

The Timex Bodylink® System comes with the ability to view Heart Rate, Altitude and Speed + Distance Data whilst training. Timex’s digital transmission system protects your data from other heart rate monitors and most exercise
equipment.

The Timex Bodylink® System offers athletes and fitness enthusiasts the ability to track, store and analyse several key indicators of personal performance.

Using the very latest in digital technology, the Bodylink® System is a network of up to 4 devices worn on the body that act together as single information and sport monitoring system.

With the purchase of the Data Recorder 2 (accessory), the Timex Trainer software automatically uploads and logs workout data, generates graphs and calculates summaries.

Flu vaccination, which costs the government around £150m a year, may not after all save the lives of the older people who are the target of intensive annual campaigns, according to scientists.

A major review published online today concludes that flaws in the studies of the flu vaccine have led them to “greatly exaggerate vaccine benefits”. The authors of the report, in the medical journal the Lancet Infectious Diseases, add that there is not enough other evidence to work out to what extent flu jabs cut the death toll, if indeed they reduce it at all.

The annual flu vaccination campaign, which begins this month, targets people over 65 and those who have long-term health problems. Flu deaths usually peak in January or February.

It is usually claimed that flu jabs halve winter deaths among older people. But Lone Simonsen from George Washington University in Washington DC and colleagues write today that this statistic cannot possibly be correct. Flu is only responsible for 5% of winter deaths in older people. Click here for full report

Researchers say both too much and too little sleep is linked to a doubled risk of fatal cardiovascular disease.

Teams from the University of Warwick and University College London examined sleep patterns and death rates over two decades among 10,308 civil servants.

They found a doubled risk among those who cut their sleeping from seven to five hours a night compared to those who stuck to seven hours a night.

The research, to be presented to the British Sleep Society, was based on data taken in 1985-88 and on follow up information collected in 1992-93. Click here for full report.

Sports training in the modern world just received a boost… of bass. Timex has unveiled the iControl ™ watch, a functionally advanced sports watch that also serves as a wireless operating device for Apple’s iPod.

ASSIST creative resources Ltd are the UK’s distributor for Timex sports products have also announced for launch into the UK the Timex® Ironman* iControl™

The newest addition of Timex’s Ironman*, the iControl wirelessly syncs with a user’s iPod for convenient music control during any activity. Equipment designed to work with a body in motion, iControl is sleek, light-weight and water-resistant.

“The days of fumbling for your iPod in mid-stride are over,” said Heberto Calves, Vice President of Sports Marketing. “iControl offers cutting edge technology and contemporary design, in addition to the functional quality and durability people have come to expect from Timex.”

iControl remains true to the sports functionality of the Timex Ironman watch, and boasts the following:

• iPod controls : Play/Pause, Volume Up/Down, Track Forward/Back
• 50-lap memory recall chronograph
• Training log stores current workout with date, best lap and average lap
• Multi-mode countdown timer
• 2 interval timers for speed and endurance training
• 3 customizable alarms for daily, weekday and weekend settings
• INDIGLO® night-light with NIGHT-MODE® feature
• 3-year battery life
• water resistant to 100m

The iControl™ watch in the UK will be available at John Lewis stores, as well as sporting goods stores nationwide. It is offered in combinations of gray and black, as well as white, pink, blue, orange and green. iControl retails for £79.99

Kettler have just launched their new range of bicycle ergometers that includes the new Golf ST Pro.

The Kettler Golf S Pro has always been one of the most popular bikes on the market. But the new version, the Golf ST Pro, offers even more. The motor controlled magnetic brake system provides resistance in 15 steps.

You can get fit with a choice of 8 pre-set training programmes that includes pulse-controlled training and pulse-range settings for stamina training and fat burning.

All the information you require about your workout is displayed on the exercise bikes smart computer including calorie consumption calculated with reference to resistance for a more accurate reading.

The low mounting height adjustable saddle positions, variable hand sensors and wide handlebars make the Golf ST Pro a real all-rounder for young and old.