One
type of fitness equipment that is rapidly gaining in popularity is the elliptical
exercise machine. In fact, at the rate it is going, the elliptical unit may very
well surpass the treadmill in popularity among Americans. What reasons lie behind
this current upturn?
Reasons
to Choose an Elliptical Exercise Machine
One
of the best reasons that I can think of to choose an elliptical training machine
is its mechanics. Elliptical equipment does not work only the lower or upper body!
It works BOTH the upper and lower body simultaneously! In effect, the heart rate
rises at a faster pace, thereby burning more calories and producing quicker, more
efficient results. This type of workout also promotes better cardiovascular fitness.
A second reason
for choosing an elliptical trainer over other fitness equipment is its ability
to satisfactorily tone the body. The dual action handlebars provide upper body
exercise similar to cross-country skiing. Such movement strengthens the back,
shoulders, chest, biceps, and triceps, and tones the muscles in the upper body
region. The foot pedals exercise the lower body to strengthen and tone the legs,
buttocks, hips, and thighs, as well as the abdomen.
Using
a trainer with elliptical motion offers a really great additional benefit...its
ability to build bone density. When your bones are denser (thicker), they tend
to be healthier and less prone to injury. Stronger, healthier bones are also better
able to resist the disease known as osteoporosis. According to the National Osteoporosis
Foundation, 55% of Americans age 50 and older develop osteoporosis.
YOU
don't have to become a statistic of osteoporosis, however. You may fight its onset
through exercise, a natural preventative measure against this bone affliction.
The NOF informs that "bone becomes stronger and denser when you place demands
on it...Lack of exercise, particularly as you get older, may contribute to lower
bone mass or density."
Another
reason to choose elliptical training is that it is low-impact exercise. 'Low impact'
means that the risk of injury to your joints or back is so minimal that it virtually
does not exist. This fact, alone, could be a good enough reason for older individuals
or people who are recovering from a joint injury to choose an elliptical unit.
Studies show
that working out on an elliptical also tends to fool your body into thinking that
it is working easier than it actually is. Scientists refer to this phenomenon
as the "Rate of Perceived Exertion." So, although you can achieve faster
results with elliptical equipment, you are also more apt to not feel quite as
fatigued when your workout is completed.
Check
out the 2008 elliptical equipment reviews and ratings.
