Elliptical machines provide a variety of exercise options. Aerobic exercise and weight loss can help combat a variety of diseases and conditions, according to health authorities such as the Mayo Clinic. Working out on an elliptical machine provides a low-impact way to improve your health and quality of life.
Combat Diseases and Conditions
Exercise helps you lose weight, which can help in the battle against coronary heart disease, diabetes, poor blood cholesterol and high blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic. Specifically, aerobic exercise can help lower low-density lipoproteins in the blood, which can lead to atherosclerosis, and raise high-density lipoproteins, or the "good" cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends aerobic exercise three times a week for 20 minutes as one option to improve heart health. Weight-bearing exercises, such as working out on an elliptical, help improve bone density and fight osteoporosis, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.
Decrease Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain causes Americans to miss approximately 100 million workdays each year, according to the Wellness Council of America. This costs employers an estimated $20 billion annually. Excess weight and weak back muscles lead to back pain, according to National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The NINDS recommends exercise as the most effective treatment for back pain. Using an elliptical for regular aerobic workouts can help you lose weight and gently work back muscles.
Improve Sports Performance
Many sports such as basketball, football, tennis, volleyball and soccer rely on your body's anaerobic energy system. These sports are played at very high levels of intensity in short bursts of activity, usually in the form of points or plays that last less than 30 seconds. In order to recover from fast breaks, serve-and-volley points and similar bouts of physical activity, you need to use sprint, or interval, training. An elliptical allows you to create sprints so you can work at a high intensity for 30 to 90 seconds, then recover. Changing resistance levels and stride lengths help you do this.
Easy Exercise Entry
If you are just beginning an exercise or weight-loss program or are obese enough that workouts such as jogging or aerobics aren't possible, an elliptical allows you to create low-impact, moderately intense exercise routines. The AHA recommends this type of exercise five times per week for 30 minutes as one way to improve and maintain heart health. You can exercise on an elliptical at a pace that simulates a brisk walk, while you keep both feet on the machine the entire time.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Aerobic Exercise—Top 10 Reasons to get Physical
- American College of Sports Medicine: Basic Recommendations from ACSM and American Heart Association
- Wellness Council of America: Building a Well Workplace
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Low Back Pain Fact Sheet
- National Osteoporosis Foundation: Exercise for Healthy Bones
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