Victoria Distributor Product Training AOK Health Pty Ltd PO Box 393, The Junction 2291 Ph: (61) 02 4969 1101 Fax: (61) 02 4969 1151
About AOK Victoria Distributor The Mission AOK through research, development and practical application shall develop or select the world s best balance based functional exercise and rehabilitation equipment for sale and distribution worldwide. AOK will build an international network of business partners, research partners and advocates to ensure we stay at the cutting edge in all aspects of our business operations. History AOK Health grew from the applied functional exercise programming developed by our principal, Bradley Wilson in the early 1980 s. Bradley, a sports scientist and senior martial arts instructor looked to apply the posture and core stability aspects of traditional martial arts with modern exercise science and rehabilitation practice. The transition of these ideas into a business came with the application of balance tools such as wobble boards and swiss balls in the early 1990 s. In 1995 Bradley, after extensive development and testing at the University of Newcastle, released mediball Pro (also known as duraball Pro) the safest, strongest and best wearing Swiss ball in the world. Since this time the AOK esearch & Development team, under Bradley s guidance, have developed over 20 unique products and tested hundreds of others in order to find a range of products that can be used by practitioners to enhance functional performance, core strength and fine motor skill acquisition. AOK Health Pty Ltd PO Box 393, The Junction 2291 Ph: (61) 02 4969 1101 Fax: (61) 02 4969 1151
esearch & Development Victoria Distributor Innovative Design AOK commenced its Swiss ball development and testing program in 1996. The University of Newcastle was selected because of its international reputation in materials testing. Testing protocols have been developed which are considered the best in the world for inflatable PVC products. Since then mediball and MaxBall have been tested to ensure product consistency and evaluate new manufacturing protocols. These Swiss Balls have variously supported static loads well in excess of 4,000 kilograms with burst-resistance to a load of 500 kg. This does not mean puncture proof but protects you from explosive deflation. Burst resistance means AOK Swiss balls are designed to take approx 30 secs to deflate if accidently punctured. We also test for deflation under load and durability. No Swiss, Therapy or Exercise Ball is 100% safe as it is not possible to test every single ball. By having an ongoing Quality program in place AOK endeavours to reduce the risk of ball failure. We pre-inflate and inspect every ball we make and have achieved exceptionally low numbers of faulty balls. Over the past 5 years we have had a return rate of less than 0.2% - this compares with 10%-15% of some European and Asian balls. It is critical that the user care for the balls they use - much like maintaining a car tyre. The more hours of use and abuse it gets - the shorter its life. This is especially so in a commercial environment where there is little supervision this may be reduced to 3 months or less. This is result of the balls being kicked around and striking sharp edges, which damages the inner surface of the skin - not always apparent from the outside. These leave resulting fracture lines which may totally reduce its burst resistant qualities. Innovative Materials A 5-year evaluation program at the University of Newcastle helped in the development of Duralon a form of PVC. Duralon is ideal for rotational moulding. This is the process used for hollow objects such as mediball s, massage balls, Dura Disc and medicine balls. AOK Health Pty Ltd PO Box 393, The Junction 2291 Ph: (61) 02 4969 1101 Fax: (61) 02 4969 1151
The mediball Pro is the world s best Swiss ball! Australian made the mediball Pro is the only Australian made swiss ball. 500kg burst resistance the mediball Pro will not explode like a lot of cheaper balls. If punctured, the mediball Pro will slowly deflate giving the user time to get off the ball, greatly reducing any risk of injury. Independently tested The mediball Pro was developed and tested at the University of Newcastle. Designed to retain shape the bands or stripes running down the sides of the mediball Pro create panels, which resist deformation when under a load. Strong resistance to wear, tear and stretching the mediball Pro is made from a unique material called Duralon, a cellular PVC material and has been purpose made for the fitness industry. Most swiss balls are made by toy manufacturers who have simply modified toy balls to do something they are not designed to do. AOK Health quality guaranteed AOK only use the highest quality raw materials in the manufacture of our products and every mediball Pro is inflated and tested in the factory before being shipped for distribution. FAQ mediball Pro Why is anti burst important? Burst resistance is critical! Burst resistance refers to the ball s ability to deflate slowly rather than bursting abruptly when punctured. Swiss balls are not indestructible and the mediball Pro will take about 30 seconds to deflate if punctured. This gives the user time to stabilise and regain their balance, greatly reducing risk of injury. I don t weigh 500kg, why would I need the ball to be burst resistant to 500kg? When sitting or exercising on a swiss ball, the impact of your weight is far greater than your static body weight. This is called impact loading. The impact load can easily be 2 and half times your body weight. So for an 80kg person the impact load could easily exceed 200kg! What is the point of the stripes/bands? Is it just for appearance? The stripes or panels of the mediball Pro are designed to withstand deformation when the mediball is placed under load. That is to say, that the mediball Pro has been engineered to retain its shape, not to go egg shaped like inferior balls. The smaller the base of support (how much is touching the ground) the more effective the ball is at teaching the body to stabilise so if the ball becomes deformed or goes egg shaped it is less effective that a ball that maintains it s roundness.
Why doesn t the mediball have a pump? How long will it last? FAQ FAQ The mediball Pro comes with an adaptor, which is easily attached to the air compressor at most petrol stations or can be inflated with a hand or foot pump. The pumps that are packaged with cheaper balls are not very successful at inflating Swiss Balls as they have little air pressure and are easily broken. The pump represents little value. Like car tyres, the more often you use the mediball Pro, the more regularly you will need to replace your ball. You should also check your ball regularly to ensure that it is not damaged and read the Care & Use Instructions carefully to prolong the life of your mediball Pro. Why should I pay more for the mediball Pro? O Why is the mediball Pro more expensive than other balls? The mediball Pro is simply the best Swiss ball on the market. The mediball will last longer, will retain its shape (won t go egg shaped), is more resistant to wear and tear and is Australian made. AOK sell many mediballs to customers who have used inferior balls and have realised the advantages and value of using the mediball Pro. AOK have been manufacturing the world s best Swiss balls for over 10 years and have less than 1% manufacturing fault rate. You get what you pay for! And the quality of the mediball Pro is guaranteed. TIPS Ask yourself, how does the mediball Pro compare to other swiss balls? How many returns do we get of the AOK mediball s compared to other balls we sell? It is easier to sell a product you believe in and the AOK mediball Pro is the best Swiss ball on the market. Make sure you have an appropriately inflated mediball on display so you can show your customers the difference. AOK also have a range of complimentary products such as the mediball Basics video and exercise wall chart, which sell themselves! If customers are looking to buy a Swiss ball (mediball Pro or otherwise) make sure they know you also have products, which will guide them in the use of their Swiss ball. Make TIPS them visible and close by, so even if you aren t there to help them, you can make easy sales. Copyright AOK Health - Last revision 12/08/04
Unique Selling Points; Frequently Asked Questions & Tips maxball Australian made the mediball Pro and MaxBall are the only Australian made swiss balls. 750kg burst resistance the MaxBall will not explode like a lot of cheaper balls. If punctured, the MaxBall will slowly deflate giving the user time to get off the ball, greatly reducing any risk of injury. Independently tested The MaxBall was developed and tested at the University of Newcastle. Non-slip surface the surface of the MaxBall has been designed to reduce slipping, making it even safer. Durable the MaxBall was purpose designed for heavy use in a gym or training environment. AOK Health quality guaranteed AOK only use the highest quality raw materials in the manufacture of our products and every MaxBall is inflated and tested in the factory before being shipped for distribution. FAQ FAQ What is the difference between the MaxBall and the mediball Pro? The MaxBall has been designed for maximum durability and strength to suit a high use environment (gym) and for use with weights. The MaxBall is able to withstand a higher load and also features a non-slip surface. Why would I need a ball with 750kg burst resistance? The MaxBall is designed specifically for use in conjunction with weights. The impact loading (dynamic weight) of both your body and the weights you are using on the MaxBall, requires the ball to be able to safely hold up to 2 and a half times the static weight. Ie. If you weigh 80kg and you are using a set of 10kg dumbbells, your dynamic weight could easily be 250kg! What do the dimples/bumps do? The dimply surface of the MaxBall is what reduces the slipperiness of the ball. If you are using weights on the MaxBall you want to know that the ball won t slip from under you. This surface helps to reduce the risk of slipping. Tips Make sure you have an appropriately inflated MaxBall on display so you can show your customers the difference. AOK also have a range of complimentary products such as the mediball Basics video and exercise wall chart, which sell themselves! If customers are looking to buy a Swiss ball (MaxBall or otherwise) make sure they know you also have products, which will guide them in the use of their Swiss ball. Make them visible and close by, so even if you aren t there to help them, you can make easy sales. Copyright AOK Health - Last revision 06/09/04
Unique Selling Points; Frequently Asked Questions & Tips and is the only product of it s kind on the market. Versatile can use different strength cords. Cords are easily interchanged. You can also perform a wide range of resistance exercises, which would normally require lots of heavy gym equipment. Portable easy to attach and detach from your swiss ball, the BallWeb also makes it easy to carry your ball. Ideal for mobile Personal Trainers and for anyone who travels frequently. Complete home gym your Swiss ball and BallWeb will give you an all round workout and are easily stored and moved at home. Web Unique the BallWeb is only available from AOK Health FAQ FAQ Why would I use the BallWeb instead of dumbbells or weights? The BallWeb offers versatility you can perform a range of resistance exercises and train all parts of the body using the BallWeb. You also get the benefit of core stability training at the same time. esistance cords are also more effective than most gym equipment because they don t restrict your range of motion, helping you to achieve functional fitness. What are the benefits of using a resistance cord? esistance training can help to improve muscle tone and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Does it fit all sizes of Swiss ball? Yes, the BallWeb fits easily over all Swiss balls up to 75cm in diameter. The BallWeb is made from adjustable, Velcro straps which enables the whole family to use the BallWeb. Does the resistance cord come with the BallWeb? Yes, the BallWeb comes with a heavy-duty resistance cord, which is made up of 50 individual strands of rubber tied together to make one rubber cord, the same as that used for bungee jumping. Is it difficult to fit the BallWeb to the ball? No, the BallWeb takes only seconds to strap to your Swiss ball and also comes with easy to follow instructions. Do I need to remove the BallWeb every time I just want to use my ball? No, the BallWeb can remain attached to your Swiss ball without interfering with the ball and it s function. The BallWeb also allows you to easily carry your Swiss ball, ideal for Personal Trainers and anyone who likes a change of training environment. Tips If a customer can try before they buy this gives them more confidence that the product will satisfy their needs. So ensure you have a BallWeb attached to your demo mediball so customers can try it out. The strength of the resistance cord is also deceptive so allowing customers to test it will also convince them that it will be enough resistance for them. The AOK BallWeb brochure (which comes with the BallWeb) contains many exercises, which can be performed with the BallWeb, ensure you have some brochures on display so customers can also see the versatility of the product. Copyright AOK Health - Last revision 06/09/04
Unique Unique Selling Points; Frequently Frequently Asked Asked Questions & Tips Pilates Ball Versatile the Pilates Ball can be used for a range of exercises to develop balance, coordination and strength. Affordable at $25, the AOK Pilates Ball is one of the most cost effective pieces of Pilates equipment available. Easy to use comes with exercise chart Made from Duralon the Pilates Ball is made from the same material as the mediball Pro. Duralon is a cellular PVC material, designed to resist bursting. FAQ FAQ What can I do with the Pilates Ball? The Pilates Ball comes with a chart of exercises to enhance balance and coordination. The Pilates Ball can also be used in a similar way to the Pilates Magic Circle for resistance exercises and instead of a foam roller for balance and coordination exercises. The use of the Pilates Ball is only limited by your imagination! How big is the Pilates Ball? The Pilates Ball inflates to 20cm in diameter. The Pilates Ball should feel a bit spongy, not too firm when inflated. Tips Group like products together (cross merchandise) so customers have the opportunity to decide between all the options without having to search for them. Products like the Pilates Ball are easier to sell if they are displayed with Pilates clothing and equipment. Copyright AOK Health - Last revision 06/09/04