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An extremely popular type of fitness exercise machine, elliptical machines were first seen in the shops in 1995 and have been developed enormously since then. Reebok put a cross trainer on the market with movable arms to workout the upper body as well as the lower body. There are a number of reasons elliptical trainers have become so popular. These reasons include the low impact training that they give which is less harmful for the joints, knees, hips and back. 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 trainers are smaller than treadmills and take up much less space. They don’t need much maintenance so this will keep the costs down. They provide aerobic and resistance training which is why they are called ‘cross trainers’. You can adjust the resistance for improved muscle tone in your arms and legs.

Types of Fitness Elliptical Trainers

Elliptical fitness trainers are available in 2 types, rear or front drive. Front driven trainers feel like running as they have a shallow movement. rear driven trainers have a deeper motion and consequently feel more like steppers. 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. On the more expensive machines you may find motorised inclines which can be useful for increasing the training level. Another feature of some models are foot plates that pivot to match the natural foot position.

Some Benefits of Using Elliptical Trainers

These low impact machines do not put disproportionate strain on the joints. They are therefore suitable for people who have back or joint problems. At higher intensity levels they can help to lower body fat. Even at low to moderate intensity levels the aerobic workout is good for the relief of stress, lowering blood pressure and and many other health benefits.

Some Features of Elliptical Trainers

When you’re buying an elliptical trainer find out the weight of the flywheel. Heavier fly wheels provide smoother motion. In cheaper models with lighter fly wheels the motion is jerky and can stick at certain points with the result that more pressure needs to be applied. Pressure on the knees can result which makes them not so comfortable to use. You should opt for a machine with a good number of resistance levels to allow you to exercise both aerobically, at low resistance, and weight bearing at higher resistance.

Most elliptical cross trainers have a selection of built in workout programs although the selection is better for the more expensive models. if your machine only has a few programs you may start to get bored so it may be worth paying more for one with 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. Hill run, weight loss and interval training are some other examples.

Conclusion

Whichever type of elliptical exercise equipment you are going to buy ensure you know how it works and that it has a suitable warranty. It’s a good idea to have a practise go on one at a local gym before you buy so that you can test out the motion and see if it is easy to use.

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