If you work out at a health club, you've probably noticed that treadmills have been on the decline in recent years, being replaced by elliptical trainers. And while treadmills still outsell ellipticals in total, sales of ellipticals are growing faster. What is behind the popularity of elliptical trainers? There are two factors that make elliptical trainers so appealing:
Low impact exercise
Upper and lower body training
Benefits of Low Impact Exercise Most types of exercise require some type of impact and/or reverse action. For example, when you walk, each step puts a force on your ankles, knees, and lower back. This impact is small compared to running, which can be up to 2.5 times your body weight. Over the years, constant pounding can lead to long-term injuries and strains. Elliptical trainers reduce the risk of impingement through elliptical motion. It feels like you're naturally walking or running without any real impact or reverse action, yet it's weight-bearing exercise that helps build muscle and bone density. If you look at the side of the elliptical trainer, you will notice that the shape of the movement is like a flat circular pattern. Budget ellipticals tend to be more circular and bouncy, while quality machines have a flatter circular motion and a more even stride. Regardless, elliptical motion greatly reduces the impact on your joints, which is why elliptical trainers appeal to older individuals and people with injuries. It is becoming the exercise machine of choice for baby boomers. Benefits of upper and lower body training The concept of training the upper and lower body at the same time is revolutionary. Elliptical training uses the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, chest, back, triceps and biceps. No other machine offers this advantage. Not only do you train more muscle groups, but you also optimize your energy expenditure. This means it takes less time to achieve more results, such as burning calories and increasing your cardio capacity. A number of elliptical trainers allow you to reverse the movement, emphasizing resistance to even more parts of your muscles. By exercising more muscle mass, you improve fat mobilization, which results in burning more calories and building muscle endurance more efficiently. Some experts have suggested that this dual action process reduces perceived exertion. In other words, you're training harder with no noticeable difference from a less strenuous workout. The benefit of working the upper and lower body combined with low impact exercise are the reasons why elliptical trainers are so popular. And there is one more feature to note. Compared to treadmills, elliptical trainers require significantly less maintenance. This is due to the fact that there are fewer moving parts and less impact wear. If you haven't tried an elliptical trainer yet, visit your local fitness center or fitness store and pick one up for an elliptical trainer. Avoid budget models and test machines that are at least $1,000. They have a more natural elliptical motion and are more stable and durable. You will find that an elliptical trainer can make a big difference to your health and fitness.
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