Life Fitness has announced that three new products have been awarded accreditation under Stage Two of the Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI).

The products, which are from the company’s new Elevation TM Series, are the 95C Inclusive Upright Lifecycle® Exercise Bike, 95R Inclusive Recumbent Lifecycle Exercise Bike and the 95T Inclusive Treadmill.

This is in addition to the Inclusive Signature Series Cable Motion Dual Adjustable Pulley, which has already received IFI accreditation.

The first time that the company’s IFI accredited products will have fully integrated inclusive features, the new developments to the Lifecycle Exercise Bikes and the treadmill include a new console overlay, as well as a keypad with dome switches accented by brighter colors making it easier for people with a visual impairment to navigate the console.

Modified level controls on the exercise bikes handlebars allow users to more easily identify and reach level controls.

The Lifecycles also feature a new colour for the seat height adjustment mechanism, a tactile label for the seat positions and a pedal with a heel strap.

The Inclusive Upright Lifecycle and the treadmill also feature a platform to reduce the step-up height on to the machines. In addition, there are now contrast lines and a larger logo on the edge of the treadmill’s running belt to assist all exercisers identify when the belt is rotating.

Disabled people are very much at the centre of the accreditation process and involved in the testing of the products, together with a panel of experts who assess and provide feedback on each one.

Stage Two of the IFI Equipment Standards indicates compliance until 2010, when Stage Three will come into effect.