A very popular type of fitness exercise machine, elliptical machines were first seen in the shops in 1995 and have been developed enormously since then. An elliptical cross trainer was introduced by Reebok that had moving arms, so it gave a workout to both lower and upper body at the same time. They are very popular both at home and at the gym for many reasons. Some reasons include less harm resulting to knees, back, hips etc due to the low impact nature of the training. The exercise they provide is also weight-bearing which is very good to help maintain bone density, especially in post menopausal women and they also efficiently burn calories. Elliptical machines take up much less space than treadmills. Maintenance is low so costs are kept down. They combine both resistance and aerobic exercises, hence the name cross trainer. The resistance is adjustable for improved muscle tone in arms and legs.
Types of Elliptical Machines
Elliptical trainers come in two types, rear and front driven. The shallow motion of front driven machines make it feel as if you are running while the deeper motion of the rear driven machines feels more like stepping. Some variety can be achieved by the ability to be used in both forward and backward directions which also helps to tone muscles in the back of the legs and the bottom. 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 Fitness Elliptical Trainers
The joints, knees and back do not suffer undue strain as the exercise is low impact. This makes them very suitable for people with joint or back problems. They give a very good aerobic workout which can help with blood pressure, heart problems and stress and are very good when used in moderate to high level for lowering body fat levels.
Features of Fitness Elliptical Trainers
When you’re buying an elliptical trainer find out the weight of the flywheel. Heavier flywheels give a smoother motion. Some cheaper models with lighter flywheels will feel that they are sticking at certain points of the movement which causes you to use more pressure. Pressure on the knees can result which makes them not so comfortable to use. The number of resistance levels is also important as you want to be able to change resistance levels depending on whether you want a good aerobic workout or a gentler but higher resistance workout.
Most elliptical cross trainers have a selection of built in workout programs although the selection is better for the more expensive models. It can be very boring using the same program every day, and your motivation may decline, so consider buying one with a wider variety of exercise programs. Some models have built-in heart rate programs which adjust the incline or speed to keep your heart rate at a preset level. Some other programs are interval training and weight loss.
Conclusion
Whichever type of elliptical exercise equipment you are thinking of buying ensure you know how it works and that it has a suitable warranty. Before you buy try to find one at a local gym so that you can see if you like the motion and if it is comfortable to use.
