Elliptical Fitness Machines – a Buying Guide

An extremely popular type of fitness exercise machine, elliptical machines were introduced 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. They have gained in popularity in recent years due to many reasons. Among the reasons are that many people prefer low impact exercises as they are not so harmful to the joints. Elliptical machines burn calories efficiently, which is good for losing weight, and they help to maintain good bone density as the exercise is weight bearing. If you don’t have room for a treadmill you can use these machines as they are smaller. Maintenance is low so costs are kept down. They provide aerobic and resistance training which is why they are called ‘cross trainers’. Resistance is adjustable so that you can improve the muscle tone in your legs and arms.

Types of Fitness Elliptical Trainers

Elliptical fitness trainers are available in 2 types, rear or front drive. The feel of the machine is governed by the drive method. Rear driven feel like steppers, front driven like running. They have both forward and backward motions. This not only gives some variety to your workout but tones up muscles in the back of the legs and the butt. Some of the expensive trainers have a motorized incline which will increase the level of training. Pivoting foot plates on some models allow your feet to move in a natural motion.

Benefits of Using Fitness Elliptical Trainers

The low impact exercise doesn’t put any undue pressure on the knees, back or other joints. They are appropriate for people with back, knee or joint issues. The aerobic exercise they give is great for getting rid of body fat, controlling high blood pressure, relieving stress and many other health benefits.

Features of Elliptical Trainers

When you’re buying an elliptical trainer find out the weight of the flywheel. A heavier fly wheel provides a less jerky, smoother motion. At certain points of the motion a cheaper, lighter flywheel tends to stick, resulting in you needing to increase the pressure. This puts a strain on the knees which makes them uncomfortable to use. To change from aerobic to high resistance exercises you need a machine with a number of resistance levels.

All models of elliptical trainers, except perhaps the very cheapest, have work out programs built in. 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. You can set a heart rate level on many machines which will then automatically adjust speed or the incline level to keep you in the right zone. Some other programs are interval training and weight loss.

Conclusion

Whichever type of elliptical trainer you are going to buy make sure you know how it works and that it has an adequate warranty. If possible, try one out at a gym to see if you find it comfortable and easy to use before you buy.