Cardiovascular, or aerobic, exercise is the type that causes you to sweat and breathe hard while you exercise. It is done with little added resistance for an extended period. According to Georgia State University, aerobic exercise lowers heart rate and blood pressure, increases maximal oxygen consumption and decreases triglycerides. When it comes to doing cardio and working your legs, machines are available to serve both purposes. Since the legs are involved with cardio, they get worked two ways.
Function
Cardio and leg workout machines have different purposes. The main function of cardio machines is to burn calories and reduce fat. The main function of leg machines is to increase the size and strength of the lower body muscles. The cardio machines do tone the leg muscles, but they are not intended to add size.
Types
Cardio machines come in various styles and they are all operated from an upright position. Treadmills, elliptical trainers, rowing machines, exercise bikes and stair climbers are all examples. Leg machines have multiple types as well, each with different focuses. The leg press, leg extension, leg curl, adductor and abductor machine are examples.
Features
Treadmills have a track that you run on to simulate running outdoors. They also have safety handrails and speed and incline adjustments. Elliptical trainers have poles that move back and forth with foot pedals. These machines work the upper and lower body at the same time and they are low-impact. Rowing machines simulate the rowing motion you would experience in a boat. They have a sliding seat and a bar attached to a pulley that you pull toward your body as you exercise. Like the elliptical, this machine works your upper and lower body and it is low-impact. Exercise bikes come in an upright style and recumbent style. They both work the lower body, they are both low-impact and they both simulate outdoor cycling. The only difference is recumbent bikes have a backrest and they are operated from a horizontal position. Stair climbers have a revolving staircase that you continually walk up during your workout. They place a high amount of emphasis on your lower body muscles and they are also low-impact.
All of these cardio machines have low-grade and high-grade models. The high-grade models have digital screens, iPod inputs, TVs, multiple program options and heart rate monitors. The low-grade models have no bells and whistles.
The leg press, leg extension, adductor and abductor machines are all operated from a seated position. The leg curl is operated from a face-down position. They all have padded seats and benches with padded lever arms that move in an arcing motion to work your legs.
Muscles Utilized
The main muscles worked with all cardio machines are the glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings and calves. The rowing machine and elliptical also work the chest, shoulders, back and arms. Leg machines work the glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings and calves. The difference is with the resistance. With cardio machines, the only resistance is the weight of the body. Leg machines offer higher resistance by changing a pin setting in a weight stack or adding weight plates.
The adductor machine works the inside of the thighs and abductor works the outsides. The machines look alike, but have different movement patterns. With the adduction machine, you sit on a seat and move your legs inward against the resistance of two padded levers. The abduction machine works the opposite direction.
Benefits
Cardio and leg machines both come with their own particular benefits. If you are new to exercise, leg machines are easier to use than free weights because you do not have to stabilize weights at your sides or over your shoulders. If you live in an area that has consistently bad weather, cardio machines allow you to always get a workout indoors. Leg workout machines will enable you to build muscular strength; with cardio machines, you will build muscular endurance. In daily life, muscular strength is necessary for jobs such as bending down and picking up a heavy bag of sand for a landscaping project. Muscular endurance is necessary for repetitive jobs--such as pushing a lawn mower.
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