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Elliptical Fitness Trainer Gets Results With Low-impact
By Korbin Newlyn
Elliptical machines are more in demand than ever and this is clear to see when looking at the number of ellipticals at the health clubs and seeing how many people are using them. An elliptical fitness trainer provides what some consider to be the perfect workout because it works the whole body, is low-impact on joints and yet provides extremely good aerobic exercise.
An elliptical trainer reduces the stresses that are put on your legs, the hip and knee joints because of the gentle elliptical motion that is used. Less stress on the joints means there is less likelihood of strain that can lead to injury. One of the biggest problems with most types of machines is that at some point during the movements, there is stress, or impact, which can cause soreness or injury. When this is the case, soon the machine is doing little more than collecting dust instead of helping people become more fit.
People who have used an elliptical fitness trainer say that it is like walking in midair. Because your feet never leave the large pedals of elliptical machines, there is no jarring on the feet, ankles, or knees, such as happens with treadmill equipment.
Instead, the smooth motion of the crossover elliptical trainer actually mimics the natural path of movement of the hips, knees and ankle joints during walking, running or jogging. However, unlike the actions of walking, running and jogging, your feet are supported the entire time you are going through the motions on an elliptical trainer, eliminating the jolting impact that comes from each step when you walk or run.
It has been estimated by sports physiologists that the impact the joints of the lower body receive when one is
running is two and a half times their body weight. In addition to stressing the hip, knee and ankle joints, this also has a significant impact on the lower back as well. Using an elliptical trainer for your workout routines reduces such impact to virtually nothing.
In order to reduce joint strain even more, the best elliptical trainer models feature articulating foot pedals. This type of training elliptical configuration of the foot pedals allows the machine to better conform to your natural stride.
More and more often, fitness experts talk about the importance of doing weight-bearing exercises. This is because it has been shown in studies that weight-bearing exercises can reduce the occurrence of osteoporosis, which is another big concern for the aging population. Unlike fitness machines such as stationary bikes and rowers, an elliptical machine allows you to get a weight-bearing workout with minimal impact.
Another aspect that makes an elliptical uniquely beneficial is that it provides a way to workout both the upper body and the lower body at the same time. In fact, crossover elliptical trainer machines are in a class by themselves in this regard. There are simply no other equipment gym machines that can simultaneously work as many muscle groups as the training elliptical method can.
While using an elliptical fitness trainer, you are able to engage your whole body for a workout the includes the glutes, back, chest, triceps, biceps, quads and hamstrings. This allows people to strengthen and tone all of the muscle groups at one time. This in turn means that more calories are used in a shorter length of time, making elliptical workouts a very efficient approach to fitness.
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