Elliptical trainers provide a full-body workout that simulates the motion of running without creating impact on your ankles and knees. Various types of brakes are used on these machines to increase the intensity of the workout you experience, thus simulating the challenge of running up a hill.
Types
There are three main types of resistance systems available on elliptical trainer machines. The first is manually controlled magnetic brakes that must be hand cranked into position. The second type is motorized magnetic brakes, which can be adjusted at the touch of a button. The final type are eddy current brakes. Eddy current brakes use the most powerful magnets and are found in fitness club-quality elliptical trainers.
Function
The magnets on manual and motorized models produce more or less resistance on the flywheel based upon their proximity to it. The flywheel is made of a conductive material, and as the magnets draw near, the pull between the magnets slows down the wheel. While this type of resistance can make for a challenging workout, it may be slow to adjust to the changes you make, thus making interval training more difficult.
Eddy Current
Eddy current brakes use electromagnetic principles to quickly fine-tune the intensity of your workout on the elliptical trainer. This type of system uses complex physics principles, but the basic idea is that the magnetic poles on either side of the flywheel produce swirling electromagnetic pools in the opposite direction of the flywheel. As the electric currents to the magnets are increased, the amount of resistance increases dramatically. Because these systems do not require the magnets to move, you can quickly switch between resistance settings during interval training.
Considerations
There is a lack of regulation regarding advertising elliptical braking systems. According to the Elliptical Trainers website, lower-quality models of elliptical trainers will sometimes use a motorized braking system and advertise it as an eddy current brake system. The website notes that ellipticals using such misnomers are typically sold at sporting goods stores.
Price
The quality of the resistance system in your elliptical trainer is directly related to the overall cost of the machine. According to certified personal trainer Brett Spottke on his Exercise Equipment Expert website, you can expect to pay at least $800 for a decent quality system as of November 2010. The higher in price you go, the more likely you are to find a machine that uses an eddy current brake system.
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