There was a time when the treadmill and the stair-stepping machine competed for the role of king of the cardio room. Then in the 1990s, a fitness equipment manufacturing company created a new product known as the elliptical trainer. A number of companies now manufacture elliptical training equipment. In most fitness centers, they are the most popular machines in the aerobic room.
Elliptical Benefits
According to the American Council on Exercise, elliptical trainers provide the same benefits as running but with less stress on the joints. On an elliptical machine, your feet never leave the foot pedals, so impact is reduced. Some elliptical trainers also provide upper body movement, which can create a slight increase in caloric expenditure. Other machines provide an incline option, which is similar to climbing hills. Because the higher inclination involves greater flexion of the legs, the hamstring muscles--which are often the weaker leg muscles--get a good workout.
Elliptical Movement
The pedaling action on elliptical trainers resembles an ellipse, which is an elongated circle that looks like an egg. The movement combines the fluid motions of running with the low-impact movements of cycling.
Elliptical Research
The March 1998 issue of ACE Fitness Matters cites a study performed at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. It compared the NordicTrack Ellipse elliptical trainer with a treadmill, a stair-stepping machine and a stationary bicycle. The researchers found that there was no significant difference in oxygen consumption, heart rate and calorie expenditure between treadmill running and the elliptical training machine, and that the treadmill and elliptical trainer provided a superior workout to the bicycle and stair stepper. Furthermore, the researchers found that the elliptical trainer produced impact forces similar to walking--in contrast to the treadmill, which produced the highest impact forces.
Elliptical Machines Compared
The May 1998 issue of ACE Fitness Matters cited a study performed by Len Kravitz, Ph.D. at the University of Mississippi. Kravitz and his team compared the Ellipse by NordicTrack, Health Rider Elliptical Crosstrainer, Power Train and the Cyclone Crosstrainer. Of the four machines compared, the Ellipse was found to be the smoothest and most durable, followed by the Health Rider, the Power Train and the Cyclone. During the testing process, five of the female subjects hit their knee on the Cyclone control panel.
Choosing Ellipticals
If you're considering an elliptical trainer for home use, keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Rear-drive elliptical machines have smoother motion and require less maintenance. However, they can cost several thousand dollars. Front-drive elliptical machines are less expensive but have a flatter motion and are harder to maintain.
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