Since bursting on the
fitness scene five years ago, millions of elliptical trainers have been
installed in health clubs and homes. Elliptical cross-trainers are the
only real breakthrough aerobic product of the past few years," says
Gregory Florez, spokesman for the American Council on Exercise (ACE).
"They are absolutely not a gimmick."
According to the American
Sports Data, Inc., "the elliptical motion trainer, continued to grow in popularity,
with 6.2 million users in 2000, up from 2.4 million when first measured in
1997."
Elliptical trainers
combine the natural stride treadmill and the simplicity of a stair climber.
On an Elliptical trainer, you stand comfortably in an upright position while
holding onto the machine's handrails and striding in either a forward or
reverse motion.
What makes a trainer
unique is the ability to offer a weight bearing workout that puts minimal
stress on the joints. Your feet never leave the pedals of an elliptical trainer,
thereby eliminating any impact in your workout. Whether you go forward or
reverse, and regardless of the level of resistance, there is a reduced risk
of injury from overusing any one-muscle group.
Weight bearing exercises
like running, hiking and aerobics benefits the body in ways that non-weight
bearing exercises like rowing and cycling cannot. Weight resistant workouts
builds bone density and burns calories more efficiently.
For individuals trying
to burn calories and trim down, the weight-bearing arm/leg exercise optimizes
energy expenditure during self-selected exercise of moderate intensity in
overweight subjects. In recent studies it was concluded that energy expenditure
among overweight subjects was higher on the elliptical machine than a treadmill,
or leg cycles with and without upper body motion. For overweight individuals
who are initiating a regular exercise program to decrease excess body fat,
they will find that elliptical treadmills optimize energy expenditure.
Elliptical Motion
The low impact, intensive
cardiovascular workout of an elliptical trainer is achieved through smooth
and natural motion. The fluid, non-jarring motion makes the elliptical trainer
ideal for anyone with back, knee, hips and joint problems. The dual action
machines utilize both the legs and arm in providing a full upper and lower
body workout.
Motion studies over
the last decade show that the human foot moves through an elliptical pattern
as we walk, run or jog. Fitness products that imitate and support this motion
are the fastest growing new category of cardiovascular equipment.
With scarce time, a
major factor in people's daily lives, total body exercise can be truly beneficial.
A total body exercise machine meets three goals that are most desired - weight
loss, time efficiency, and motivation.
Total Body Exercise
involves more muscle mass in an aerobic exercise activity. For the average
person, the larger the muscle mass involved in exercise, the more effective
that exercise is for improving fat mobilization, burning calories and building
muscle endurance in an efficient period of time, and at a reduced perceived
rate of exertion. The upper and lower body workout of a trainer utilizes
the quadriceps. hamstrings, glutes, chest, back, triceps and biceps.
Elliptical Technology
Within the fitness
industry, "Elliptical Technology" has become the generic name for devices
that incorporate the various linkages/mechanisms in an effort to create a
preferred pattern of movement for a pair of foot pedals. The shape of this
preferred movement is intended to mimic the natural path of the ankle, knee
and hip joints experience during locomotion - walking, striding, jogging
and/or running.
In its most rudimentary
form, Elliptical Technology consists of a crank arm (similar to the crank
of a bicycle) that revolves around an axis at one end and that is attached
to a bar at the other. The opposite end of the bar moves in a reciprocating,
linear pattern when the crank rotates. Since one end of the bar rotates in
a circular pattern while the other moves linearly, points between the two
ends of the bar move in elliptical patterns. The points of the bar closest
to the crank move in wider, more circular ellipses (closest to a circle)
and the points closest to the other end move in thinner, flatter ellipses
(closer to a straight line).
The most obvious advantage
of Elliptical Technology is the lack of impact to the lower limbs and back.
Unlike a treadmill in which the foot of the user is continuously lifted off
of the running surface, striking that surface upon the return, the foot and
foot pedal of an elliptical machine are in constant contact. Effectively
eliminating impact.
Impact force is also
felt on stairstepper devices. Although the foot often remains in contact
with the foot pedal when such devices are used, the foot pedal undergoes
a virtually instantaneous direction reversal. Essentially, the foot pedal
is moving in one direction, must stop and then is pushed in the opposite
direction. The force required to reverse the movement of the mechanism results
in "impact" to the joints of the lower body.
The mechanism incorporated
in an elliptical machine moves in a smooth, continuous motion and does not
suffer the effects of direction reversal. The exercise experienced on elliptical
machines is weight bearing (versus exercise bikes) which has ramification
in the inhibition of the onset of osteoporosis.
In addition, although
cycling is a well-recognized and safe tool to improve cardiovascular conditioning,
the elliptical modality is a more functional pattern of movement. Since ellipticals
simulate a natural walking pattern, they easily lend themselves to an upper
body component of exercise. Many other devices, either due to their mechanical
structure (treadmills) or the pattern (cycling) do not readily adapt to a
total body configuration.
The various manufacturers
of elliptical machines have developed many iterations of this basic technology.
As a result, the field is full of machines that have a different "feel" -
the articulation of the ankle, knee and hip is different. The true nature
of Elliptical Technology has been somewhat obscured by the preponderance
of these questionable devices. Many lack the design and mechanism to duplicate
a fluid, natural motion. As with all forms of exercise equipment, there are
cheap versions that offer negligible physical benefits.
Due to the natural
motion, combined with an upper and lower body workout, quality elliptical
trainers will continue to grow in popularity and their sales will substantially
increase. They appeal to a population that is increasingly overweight and
looking for an optimum workout for burning fat and calories. Elliptical trainers
also appeal to an aging population that seeks a total body workout, minus
the impact.
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