| Joseph Pilates’ Resistance Bands | |
|---|---|
|
Origin |
Joseph Pilates |
|
Type |
Resistance Bands |
|
Effects |
Enables the circulatory system and prevents muscles atrophying while in a coma. |
|
Downsides |
Decreases flexibility when conscious |
|
Activation |
Wearing |
|
Collected by |
Warehouse 13 |
|
Section |
|
|
Aisle |
628442-2490 |
|
Shelf |
934404-6519-241 |
|
Date of Collection |
January 28, 1983 |
| [Source] | |
Origin[]
Joseph Hubertus Pilates (9 December 1883 – 9 October 1967) was a German-born physical trainer, writer, and inventor. He is credited with inventing and promoting the Pilates method of physical fitness. He patented a total of 26 apparatus in his lifetime. Each apparatus was designed to help accelerate the process of stretching, strengthening, body alignment and increased core strength started by mat work.
Pilates was a sickly child. He suffered from asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever, and he dedicated his entire life to improving his physical strength. He was introduced by his father to gymnastics and body-building, and to martial arts like jiu-jitsu and boxing. By the age of 14, he was fit enough to pose for anatomical charts. Pilates came to believe that the "modern" life-style, bad posture, and inefficient breathing lay at the roots of poor health. He ultimately devised a series of exercises and training techniques, and engineered all the equipment, specifications, and tuning required to teach his methods properly.
During World War I, the British authorities interned Pilates, along with other German citizens, in Lancaster Castle, where he taught wrestling and self-defense, boasting that his students would emerge stronger than they were before their internment. Pilates studied yoga and the movements of animals and trained his fellow inmates in fitness and exercises. He later said that the intuitive movements of cats, in particular, inspired many aspects of his fitness regime. It was there that he began refining and teaching his minimal-equipment system of mat exercises that later became "Contrology”.
Pilates developed in the aftermath of the late 19th-century physical culture of exercising to alleviate ill health. There is, however, only limited evidence to support the use of Pilates to alleviate problems such as lower back pain. While studies have found that regular sessions improve balance, and can help muscle conditioning in healthy adults (compared to doing no exercise), it has not been shown to be an effective treatment for any medical condition.
Effects[]
Increases involuntary motor control over one’s body. Can be used across all systems, but is strongest on the circulatory and muscular systems to stave off atrophy. Useful for keeping the comatose or in torpor conditions continue to live with minimal equipment. Causes a loss in flexibility and skeletal muscle movement due to the efforts of keeping the CNS stimulated when the body is dormant. Results in several days of limited motor control after or immediately when used while conscious.
Appearances[]
Shown in the episode Secret Services. Used to keep Claire's muscles from moving but her circulatory system active while she was comatose. Was the best artifact treatment Artie could find alongside Oliver Sacks' Record Player to keep her inactive from performing any telekinetic attacks.