CATS, the SJSU Employee Fitness Program, is available to all apparently healthy staff and faculty at the University. Participating staff and faculty are assumed to be sufficiently fit that they can survive the risks of exercise. The program usually enrolls 50 to 60 individuals during any single session. CATS is managed by faculty and students in the Department of Human Performance as a non-profit service to SJSU employees. Fees charged to clients are used to support student assistants, pay for equipment maintenance, and purchase of new equipment.

This program was established to:

• provide a place for faculty and staff to exercise without competing with students for equipment and space, and
• provide an internship experience for HuP major students.

Clients are able to exercise on a selection of aerobic equipment including:

• Stairmasters
• Treadmills
• Concept II rowers
• NordicTrack ski machines
• Recumbent bicycles
• HealthRiders
• Slide trainers
• Stationary cycles

Equipment is available for toning and strengthening includes

• Dumb bells (#1 to #15)
• Slant boards
• Abdominal crunch machines

The CATS program operates year round (Monday through Friday from 1130 to 1330) in SPX 75. A student assistant supervises sessions during the Fall and Spring semesters. This assistant can help clients:

1. learn proper and safe use of equipment,
2. plan an appropriate and adequate exercise program, or
3. in case of an accident, apply appropriate first aid measures.

No assistant is available during the summer or winter sessions. Sessions are not available on days campus is closed or when the room is scheduled for major maintenance (signs will be posted prior to closing for maintenance procedures).

When demand for equipment is high clients are asked to establish a wait list and use equipment only 20 minutes before changing to another mode of exercise. Other limited rules must also be observed.

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Application

To apply, you need only complete a medical history and send it with a check to CATS, c/o HuP, 0054. All clients must submit an accurate medical history. Clients with medical conditions that would make exercise hazardous will be required to get a physician's clearance for exercise.

SJSU staff and faculty are invited to drop by and see the facility to try the equipment (you are welcome to one free visit where you utilize the equipment).

For further information, call (4-3040) or email Leamor Kahanov (program director).

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General Information and Rules

• Wear comfortable, loose fitting exercise clothes and exercise shoes that do not have black soles.
• You may want to bring a water bottle and towel.
• To receive a locker (you must provide your own combination lock):
  • women should see Patricia Padilla in SPX 64
  • men should see Carol Bare in SPX 85
• Duties of the student assistant includes demonstrating proper use of equipment and assisting clients (staff and faculty) in developing safe exercise programs. He or she is also there to be sure equipment is used properly and to see that only those who have paid a fee use the facility.
• The student assistant is in charge of the room ad has complete authority when no HuP faculty member is present.
• Do not leave SPX 75 unattended. if you leave and no one else is present, shut and lock the doors.
• Turn off the Stairmasters (black unit on baseboard) when finished using it and no one is waiting to use the machine.
• If you are unfamiliar with equipment, please ash someone about proper usage and any potential hazardous techniques you should avoid.

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Eligible faculty and staff

Program is open to all apparently healthy staff and faculty. Apparently healthy persons, as defined by American College of Sports Medicine, are individuals with fewer than 2 major risk factors for coronary or chronic metabolic disease.

Persons with any of the following medical conditions must receive a clearance from their personal physician prior to acceptance into the CATS program:

• any cardiac or pulmonary disorders
• uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure)
• diabetes
• other disorders that may be affected by vigorous exercise.

All applications may be screened by an exercise physiologist and/or physician prior to acceptance into the program.

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Assumed risks

Aerobic exercise and cross training involve discomforts and risks commonly associated with exercise, including:

• sweating
• increased heart rate
• increased blood pressure
• increased breathing
• raised body temperature

The reaction of the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems to exercise cannot be predicted with complete accuracy. Other risks of exercise include:

• abnormal blood pressure
• fainting
• disorders of heart beat
• muscle soreness and/or stiffness
• in rare instances, heart attack

While exercising, if you notice any signs or symptoms of exercise distress (listed below) you should STOP EXERCISE IMMEDIATELY and report your symptoms to the student assistant or seek medical advice before you exercise again.

• dizziness
• nausea (upset stomach)
• abnormal pressure or pain in the chest
• unusually heavy breathing
• unusually heavy sweating
• irregular heart beats

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Page designed by Carol Christensen Revised: 10.2000