A very popular type of fitness exercise machine, elliptical trainers were first seen in the shops in 1995 and have been developed enormously since then. Elliptical trainers with movable arms were introduced to the market by Reebok. These were designed to provide exercise to both the lower body and the upper body at the same time. They have become extremely popular in commercial gyms and for home use for a variety of reasons. Among the reasons are the low impact nature of the exercises which is gentle on the joints, back, hips and knees. Elliptical cross trainers provide weight bearing exercise which is good for maintaining bone density and they also burn calories efficiently. These machines are compact and take up much less space than a traditional treadmill. Maintenance is low so costs are kept down. The name, cross trainer, refers to their combination of resistance and aerobic training. Muscle tone in arms and legs can be improved by changing the resistance.
Types of Elliptical Machines
Elliptical trainers come in two types, rear and front driven. The feel of the machine is governed by the drive method. Rear driven feel like steppers, front driven like running. They have both forward and backward motions. This not only gives some variety to your workout but tones up muscles in the back of the legs and the butt. One feature of some of the more expensive elliptical trainers is a motorised incline. This can be very useful if you want to increase the level of training. Pivoting foot plates on some models allow your feet to move in a natural motion.
Some Health Benefits of Using Elliptical Machines
As they are low impact no extra strain is put on the back, knees or joints. This makes them more appropriate for people with back, knee or joint issues than other types of fitness machines. The aerobic exercise they give is great for getting rid of body fat, controlling high blood pressure, relieving stress and many other health benefits.
Some Features of Elliptical Machines
When you’re buying an elliptical trainer find out the weight of the flywheel. Heavier flywheels give a smoother motion. Flywheels that are lighter result in a more jerky motion that can feel as if it is sticking at some points of the motion. This may result in you having to apply extra pressure. This introduces strain to the knees so they can be less comfortable to use. As you will probably want to be able to change from aerobic to higher, weight bearing exercises choose a trainer with a good number of easily adjustable resistance levels.
If you want a machine with a large number of built in work out programmes you will need to buy one of the more expensive models. Motivation can be affected if you are bored by using the same program so consider buying one, for a bit more money, that has more programs. Built in programs and heart rate monitors on some machines can be used to adjust the speed automatically to keep you in the right heart rate zone. A variety of other programs are often included such as weight loss and interval training.
Conclusion
Whichever type of fitness elliptical trainer you are thinking of buying ensure you know how it works and that it has an adequate warranty. If possible, try one out at a gym to see if you find it comfortable and easy to use before you buy.
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