Working Out on an Elliptical Machine
Elliptical machines have become ever increasingly more sophisticated and popular since their introduction on the fitness scene many years ago. There are estimates that have indicates that more than 6,000,000 people would now rather use elliptical machines for their home exercise equipment. The biggest reason that elliptical exercise machines have become ever increasingly popular is because they provide a total body, low impact workout that is sufficiently safe for beginners and even women who are pregnant while being challenging enough for serious athletes. As far as cardiovascular workouts are concerned, it is hard to beat an elliptical machine.
Research has demonstrated that if you want to maintain a bone density that is healthy, you need to do some weight bearing activities where you are constantly on your feet like aerobics, racquetball, and running. However, many of these types of activities require you to jar your muscles and bones and which can result in a new injury or aggravate an old one. Your joints can also be irritated or injured with any type of impact exercise. Usually, this includes the back, hips, ankles, and the knees. People who are recovering from an accident, people who have arthritis, and women who are pregnant frequently need a type of low impact exercise routine, which is precisely what an elliptical exercise machine will provide.
You stand with your feet on movable, small platforms so that you are bearing weight on an elliptical machine. This increases your bone density. However, because you step up and down on the pedals or platforms, this oval pedaling movement of the machine is flowing and smooth. This is the same kind of elliptical motion that the human foot experiences when you are running or walking. There isn’t any jarring that occurs like when you are on a treadmill or exercising outdoors, while the movement is similar to these activities. Your feet will never leave the pedals or platforms when you’re on an elliptical exercise machine. Not only does this reduce the stress on your joints, it also makes for a safer workout.
Elliptical exercise machines have been compared to riding a bicycle while standing up by many people. Other people have reported that they are somewhere between cross country skiing and a stair climber. However, an elliptical machine provides continuously flow unlike a stair stepper that comes to a stop prior to reversal of direction with the up and down strokes. By using different stepping speeds and inclines, you can change the amount of flexion at the knees and ankles and therefore you can further reduce the amount of continuous impact on your back, legs, and feet.
An elliptical machine doesn’t have the harmful impact and stress on your muscles and joints but does provide all of the benefits of weight bearing exercise. There aren’t many home exercise machines out there that will provide you with a low impact workout of the same quality.
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