ThighMaster
{{short description|Exercise product}}
The ThighMaster is an exercise product designed to shape one's thighs.{{cite web|last=Berkman |first=Meredith |url= https://ew.com/article/1992/05/22/suzanne-somers-and-thighmaster/|title=Suzanne Somers and the ThighMaster |publisher=EW.com |date=1992-05-22 |access-date=2020-06-17}}{{cite news|title= Time for a Fitness Pyramid?; After Thigh Master, a Stream of Fitness Gadgets|work= The New York Times|date=1995-03-29|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/29/garden/time-for-a-fitness-pyramid-after-thigh-master-a-stream-of-fitness-gadgets.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=2010-12-22|first=Molly|last=O'Neill}}{{cite news|title= A Meeting Of Behinds With A Thigh Master|publisher= Sun Sentinel|date=March 8, 1995|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1995-03-08-9503070465-story.html |access-date=2020-06-17}}{{cite news|title= Advice on fitness gadgets: try to exercise restraint|newspaper= Orlando Sentinel|date=1996-01-26|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1996-01-26-9601240640-story.html |access-date=2020-06-17}}
Usage
The device is essentially two pieces of metal tube bent in a loop and connected with a hinge. The intended use is to put the ThighMaster between the knees and squeeze them together.{{cite web |url=https://www.shape.com/fitness/gear/do-seen-tv-fitness-products-work |title=Suzanne Somers' Thigh Master - As Seen On TV Fitness Products: Do They Work? |work= Shape Magazine |date=2012-10-28 |access-date=2018-10-27 }} This exercises the hip adductors. The simple mechanism allows exercising any suitable muscle where a small angle can be created to press it, for example the biceps (elbow flexion) or the hamstrings (knee flexion).{{cite news|title= Working out old school: Is it time to pull out the ThighMaster?|work= The Los Angeles Times|date=2009-01-05|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jan-05-he-retro5-story.html|access-date=2020-06-17|first=Whitney|last=Friedlander}}
Marketing
Advertisements emphasized that the ThighMaster could be used while doing something else. The infomercials featured people watching television and exercising with the ThighMaster at the same time. It was mainly advertised in the 1990s by the actress Suzanne Somers.{{cite web|author= |url=http://jezebel.com/the-newest-thighmaster-vibrates-is-finally-useful-1699961029 |title=The Newest ThighMaster Vibrates, Is Finally Useful |publisher=Jezebel.com |date= 24 April 2015|access-date=2015-10-22}}{{cite web|author= |url= https://www.huffpost.com/entry/suzanne-somers-thighmaster_n_7086648|title=Suzanne Somers Says Her Vibrating ThighMaster 'Makes Sex More Enjoyable' |publisher=HuffPost |date=2015-04-17 |access-date=2020-06-17}}
History
The ThighMaster was invented in Sweden by then-physical medicine intern (later "Dr.") Anne Marie Bennstrom (Prescott) as the "V-Bar" physical therapy device.{{cite web |title=Obituary: Dr. Anne Marie Bennstrom Prescott 1928-2018 |url=https://idyllwildtowncrier.com/2018/02/28/obituary-dr-anne-marie-bennstrom-prescott-1928-2018/ |website=Idyllwild Town Crier |date=28 February 2018 |access-date=24 September 2019}} It later received US design patent number 343882S as "physical exerciser."{{cite web |title=Physical exerciser USD343882S |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/USD343882S/ |website=Google Patents |publisher=USPTO |access-date=24 September 2019}}
It achieved commercial success when marketed under the "ThighMaster" name by Joshua Reynolds (often erroneously credited as the inventor), who also made a great deal of money with his version of the Mood ring. Reynolds is an heir to the fortune of R. J. Reynolds, founder of R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.{{cite web|author=T.M. Shine|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1993-03-17-9303150395-story.html |title=Inventor Of The Thighmaster Stays On The Ball|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |date=1993-03-17 |access-date=2020-06-17}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bieler-540242-thighmaster-says.html |title=O.C. inventor squeezed ThighMaster into American culture |date=5 December 2013 |publisher=Ocregister.com |access-date=2015-10-22}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/ekij45h/thigh-master/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006212024/http://www.forbes.com/pictures/ekij45h/thigh-master |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 6, 2011 |title=Thigh Master - In Photos: 10 Corny But Effective Cable TV Ads |work=Forbes |date= |access-date=2015-10-22}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A479XLrmk54C&q=joshua+reynolds+thighmaster&pg=PT41 |title=The Indispensable Book of Useless Information: Just When You Thought It ... - Don Voorhees |date= 3 May 2011|isbn=9781101514795 |access-date=2015-10-22|last1=Voorhees |first1=Don |publisher=Penguin }}{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.advancedphysicalmedicine.org/blog/2013/02/18/debunking-4-popular-exercise-fads/ |title=Debunking 4 Popular Exercise Fads – Advanced Physical Medicine |publisher=Advancedphysicalmedicine.org |date=2013-02-18 |access-date=2015-10-22}}
:"The V-Toner...we took over ownership of it and renamed it ThighMaster" — Suzanne Somers{{cite web | url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/growing-a-business/suzanne-somers-explains-how-thighmaster-squeezed-its-way/352389 | title=Suzanne Somers Explains How ThighMaster Squeezed Its Way into Infomercial History | date=25 June 2020 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
Category:1980s fads and trends
Category:1990s fads and trends
{{sport-stub}}
{{tool-stub}}