Since bursting on the fitness scene five years ago, millions of elliptical trainers have been installed in health clubs and homes.
"Eliptical 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 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 of a 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 eliptical 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.
If you're trying to burn calories and trim down, the weight-bearing arm/leg exercise of an elliptical optimizes calorie burn and gives you an overall total body workout.
Elliptical Trainer 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.
Elliptical Trainer 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.
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.
The mechanism incorporated in an elliptical trainer 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 can also help stop the onset of osteoporosis.
Not All Ellipticals Are Equal
Manufacturers of elliptical machines have developed many versions 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.
These cheaper ellipticals, because they lack the design and mechanism to duplicate a fluid, natural motion, can then strain your knees, ankles and hip joints. They can also result in less calories burned.
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.
Purchase German Built Elliptical Trainers at
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