Cardiac exercise machines have been a staple in fitness facilities for decades. Fitness author Jane Brody reports that cardiac exercise equipment serves numerous purposes and can benefit people of all fitness levels. In addition to providing a convenient way to get some aerobic work, Brody says that cardiac exercise machines can be effective for treating arthritis and other medical conditions. Many athletes turn to cardiac exercise equipment for performance enhancement, as well.
Evolution
Cardiac exercise machines have been around for almost as long as gyms themselves. An article from the 1984 Piedmont Life newspaper based in Lexington, North Carolina, discusses the benefits of treadmills, exercise bikes, rowing machines and skiers. Since these earlier machines, cardiac equipment has seen the evolution of computers and heart rate monitors. Many machines now have automatic resistance devices to adjust difficulty based on user physical attributes. Current machines can incline and decline, and many now have video simulators so users can "see" where they are going, similar to a video game.
Function
Cardiac exercise equipment serves to mimic real physical activities such as biking, running, rowing and climbing stairs. For people who cannot always get outdoors to perform these activities, cardiac exercise equipment offers a convenient substitute. Many cardiac machines contain computers that log user data so exercisers can keep track of progress. Cardiac machines allow for testing and rehabilitation in clinical settings, as well. Common cardiac machines include treadmills, rowers, exercise bikes of many varieties, stair climbers, Nordic skiers, elliptical machines and arm cranks.
Programs
Cardiac equipment typically comes with several programs. Common programs include cardiovascular, weight loss, hill climb, interval and manual. Cardiovascular programs allow users to train within an appropriate target heart rate based on their ages. Weight loss programs keep track of calories burned and sometimes adjust resistance so users remain within the "fat burning zone," about 60 to 65 percent of maximal heart rate. Hill climbs automatically adjust resistance to simulate hills, followed by decreases to simulate valleys. Interval programs allow users to work at high intensity bursts, followed by rest periods. Manual programs let the user decide when and how long resistance is increased.
Benefits
Cardiac exercise equipment is useful because it allows users to keep track of a lot of physiological data. Most equipment is equipped with a heart rate monitor, enabling exercisers to remain within a certain heart rate zone. Many keep track of calories burned, as well. The ability to immediately adjust resistance is convenient for those on specific exercise programs. Further, cardiac equipment is ideal for special-needs and injured populations who may not be able to perform normal outdoor physical activities.
Limitations
Cardiac equipment can have limitations as to benefiting athletic performance in some cases. In the case of treadmills, the belt moves, which assists the running stride. For athletes attempting to improve running speed, this could sacrifice some performance adaptations. Further, cardiac equipment often supports the body in such a way as to provide maximum comfort, but prevents performance enhancement. The recumbent bike, for instance, completely supports the exerciser's body, limiting the load on the axial skeleton. Therefore the exerciser may get some cardiovascular benefit, but very little strength increase in the bones and joints.
References
- Exercise Equipment Advisor
- Piedmont Life; "Exercise is an Effective Way to Treat Arthritis"; Jane E. Brody; September, 1984
Member Comments