Benefits of Elliptical Machines
One of the newest trends in home gym equipment is to purchase an elliptical
trainer for your cardiovascular workouts, rather than simply purchasing a
treadmill or jogging outside like many people choose to do. Unlike
“pseudo-equipment” that promises considerable exercise but does not stand up
under research scrutiny, elliptical trainer benefits are extremely well
documented by major research labs and universities, and their ability to
mirror the effects of jogging on a treadmill without any of the harsh impact
pains is well known.
Still, the question remains – who is the elliptical trainer best for?
Because these cross trainers can benefit anyone looking for aerobic
training, they are a fairly effective choice for anyone that is trying to
improve their cardiovascular health and weight loss. But there are some
groups that ellipticals are especially beneficial for, including the
following:
·
Overweight Men and Women
When you are overweight, jogging can be very beneficial towards shedding
pounds. But it also means that your weight puts a great deal of extra
pressure on your legs and muscles, making it very, very hard to exercise
without considerable pain. Ellipticals do not have this pressure, so they
are a safer and less painful option for overweight men and women.
·
The Elderly
As you age, keeping your heart health high is important, but various joint,
muscle and bone problems can make running almost impossible. Ellipticals
reduce that pressure, so they are able to provide you with the heart health
benefits you are looking for without risking breaking a bone or badly
hurting your legs or feet.
·
Rehabbing Patients
Similar to the benefits of the elliptical with the elderly, when you are in
the later stages of rehabbing (able to run again, but with some injury risk)
the elliptical may be a better alternative. You should first check with your
physical therapist to make sure your body is ready to handle the elliptical,
but if so, it is a safer option for those whom tripping, falling or impact
can make it more difficult to recover.
·
Non-Aerobic Athletes
The truth is that almost everyone can use an elliptical in place of a
treadmill. They are simply a better choice for burning calories and
improving cardiovascular health without considerable impact on your legs and
feet. It is also useful for conditioning the muscles on the lower half of
your body.
Who is an Elliptical Not For?
The only people that would benefit better from jogging or running are those
with whom jogging and running is their ultimate goal. For example, marathon
runners would not want to use an elliptical, because they need to prepare
their bones and muscles for the aches and pains of a long run. Heart health
and calories in their cases is less important than the actual act of
running, and so jogging is more useful to them.
But if you are simply looking to improve your cardiovascular health and/or
burn calories and/or condition your muscles, elliptical machines give you
the same success with fewer aches and pains.