When it comes to the heart, “there’s not a machine out there that we can design better,” says Dr. Richard Collins, author of “The Cooking Cardiologist.” “It can take a tremendous amount of damage and injury and continue to work.”
But instead of telling people their habits are bad, the folks at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science hope their exhibits inspire visitors to make healthy, not damaging, choices.
“That was our approach with ‘Expedition Health’: You’re not fat, dumb and ugly, ” says Bridget C. Coughlin, vice president of strategic partnerships and programs, and curator of human health. “So much of fitness is punitive.”
Research at the museum has shown that people respond better to health messages if they can make them personal. “There’s no magic bullet, just a bunch of small BBs,” Coughlin says, offering the reassuring message that practice makes perfect when it comes to fitness and diet. “Same thing with yo- yo dieting — you couldn’t have failed if you hadn’t tried. It’s try and try again.”
Once visitors have walked through “Body Worlds & The Story of the Heart,” they can take the stairs (healthier than riding the escalator) down to “Expedition Health” on the second floor, and put their own hearts through their paces in the museum’s permanent, interactive installation that takes participants on a virtual hike up Mount Evans.
Extreme heart:
One of the panels in “Body Worlds” describes cyclist Lance Armstrong’s extraordinary heart size, resting heart rate and maximum heart rate. In “Expedition Health,” “Bio Ride” lets you pedal a stationary bike, learn your personal target heart rate and measure your pulse. Your virtual-expedition buddy will appear on the screen to talk about how his or her own heart responded during a bike ride, and explain how exercise makes the heart stronger.
Vascular system:
“Body Worlds” displays the full human vascular system. In “Expedition Health’s” “Vein Viewer,” visitors see their own blood vessels up to a quarter-inch under their skin, and learn about arteries, veins and capillaries, and how blood circulates through the body.
Electrical impulses:
“Body Worlds” shows the electrical impulse that makes the heart beat. Jog on over to “Your Heart’s Electricity” to generate an electrocardiogram (EKG) that measures the electricity moving through your own heart. See the interior and exterior anatomy of two real human hearts, and learn how valves and chambers control blood flow.
Muscles:
“The Hurdler,” “The Archer” and “The Balance Beam Gymnast,” three of the 18 full-body plastinates in the show, give insight into how we use our skeletal muscles as we move. “Expedition Health’s” “Muscle Challenge” gives visitors a chance to feel their own muscles at work as they climb and turn the corner on a horizontal climbing ledge.
Walking:
“The Walker” displays how the muscles, joints and heart benefit from movements. In “Expedition Health,” you can watch yourself walk and compare your steps with others in “Size Up Your Stride,” which measures length and speed for each walker. Participants then receive a score based on how much energy they used during their walk.
Kristen Browning-Blas
