Research Question: Although fitness equipment is recognised worldwide as a tool for physical activities and a sustainable result in optimizing human movements within a wide range of environments, the state of the art and scientific advances have not been analysed from a bibliometric point of view. Research Methods: Using descriptive bibliometric software, this study examined the scientific production, and the most prolific authors, articles, and institutions. Bibliometric maps were used to visualise the content of published articles and to determine the most prolific terms, co-citation, and co-authorship. Results and Findings: A total of 678 original papers were retrieved from 447 journals in Web of Science®. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research had the highest number of articles (25), while the American Journal of Preventive Medicine the highest number of global citations (656). Citation and co-authorship networks were defined. Implications: Research on fitness equipment is still in an early maturation stage with 30 years of scientific development in its timeline. Fitness equipment and its related fields of application could represent a real step into a more sustainable balance between the economic, environmental, and social spheres.

Research Question: Fitness equipment is a worldwide ever-growing phenomenon and its usage is nowadays popular both in human routines and academic investigations. Research Methods: This paper is a literature review aiming fitness equipment in relation to all the available findings connected to the complete product life-cycle phases. Results and Findings: Manufacturing industries, which are active realities of the sector, have not been a major concern for sport researchers within the production applicability sub-field. Past root hypotheses, the current state of the art and future guideline applications are addressed. Selected articles were categorised chronologically, by journal, by geographic area and, extensively, by content. Five thematic areas were included: (1) historical background, (2) creation stages, (3) product features, (4) innovation paths and (5) sectoral environments and marketing processes. Implications: By means of the provided findings, there is an opportunity to widen approaches to study fitness equipment that could be extended to the sector’s enterprise applications and methods of work.

La industria fitness y salud (H&F) siempre marcó más las variables tangibles de los productos antes de las intangibles. Hoy en día, en los modelos de negocios que funcionan, se ha demostrado como estas resultan increíblemente útiles. La aplicabilidad y usabilidad de recursos fitness (productos, servicios o soluciones mixtas) se planean sobre el innovador enfoque que define estas calidades más escondidas. Esta revisión de la literatura académica tiene el reto de evidenciar este ‘lado B’. La introducción de la herramienta nombrada Fitness Applications ‘Punnett Square’ (FAPS) ayudará a entender de forma mejor los recursos del sector fitness que siguen en continuo desarrollo. También, resultará aplicable a todos los profesionales del sector que utilizan equipos (físicos o menos) en su día a día en instalaciones deportivas. Bien para todo lo que ya está en posesión para aumentar los niveles de valoracción, tanto como para todas las elicciones frente a acciones futuras. Health and fitness (H&F) industry has always highlighted product’s tangible variables over untouchable ones. Nowadays conspicuous market models are proving that these facets are increasingly required by international societies and contexts and are demonstrated to be incredibly useful. The applicability and usability of fitness resources (products, services or mixed solutions) depends upon a genuinely innovative approach to the definition of those hidden intangible variables. This literature analysis underline that also academic contributions focus more attention on ‘touchable’ variables, but it’s now the time for the ‘B side’. The introduced Fitness Applications ‘Punnett Square’ (FAPS) tool helps to better understand the ever-growing world of fitness industry resources. It is also direct applicable to all those sector professionals who operate in their daily-life facility routine, with the final goal to increase levels of assessment of H&F product and service knowledge, for what already own and for emergent choices or purchasing actions.

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Objetivo do estudo: Os centros de fitness o ginásios representam hoje uma necessidade real dos seres humanos dentro das rotinas da vida cotidiana em todo o mundo. Através de uma análise exaustiva da literatura, pretendemos definir o conceito de boutique de fitness através da análise do estado atual das publicações científicas sobre configurações/esquemas de negócios y durante a linha do tempo da indústria de fitness pós-moderna. Metdologia: Três principais bases de dados foram utilizadas para obter os resultados: ISI-WoS, Scopus e SportDiscus. A seguinte combinação de pesquisa foi usada: o termo “fitness” cruzado com “chain”, “studio” e “franchise”. Originalidade/Relevância: Os resultados foram ordenados de acordo com três áreas temáticas: (1) franquia: da 1ª à 2ª geração; (2) a boutique “essência”; e (3) respostas sociais. Principais resultados: As oito (8) principais características qualitativas intangíveis obtidas a partir do modelo de fitness boutique foram listadas. Contribuições teóricas/metodológicas: A pesquisa mostra como a indústria evoluiu com seus próprios modelos de negócios/mercado ao longo do tempo mais recente. Contribuições sociais/para a gestão: Este estudo poderia (1) ajudar pesquisadores e profissionais a se familiarizarem com o escopo dos trabalhos mais relevantes publicados nas bases de dados de esportes e ócio, e (2) a compreender todos os segredos e sucessos qualitativos dos esquemas franquia no domínio do fitness.