Once considered the new kids on the block, elliptical trainers are clearly here to stay. You'll find banks of them in gym cardio rooms, and numerous companies compete for your money in the home elliptical trainer market. But although elliptical trainers offer a number of benefits, they have a few drawbacks you should be aware of.
Weight-bearing and Low-impact
When you pedal an elliptical trainer, the bones and muscles of your feet, legs, hips and lower back must support your body weight. This is called weight-bearing exercise, and can help reduce bone mineral loss in the bones that support your weight. Walking or running on a treadmill is weight-bearing exercise, too, but unlike the treadmill, an elliptical trainer doesn't produce repeated impact on your joints with each step -- no matter how fast you pedal.
Other Benefits
Elliptical trainers offer the same type of general benefits you'd get with any other type of cardiovascular equipment -- if you use the elliptical trainer consistently. These benefits include weight loss, improved mood, a stronger immune system and less risk of developing some diseases. But you don't get the benefits if you don't work out, and the elliptical trainer can't force you to get on it and pedal.
Types
You'll encounter three primary elliptical trainer configurations: front-drive, rear-drive and center-drive. The first gym models were rear-drive, with the resistance mechanism placed behind where you stand and pedal. But some front-drive models have begun to appear in the gym, and many home models have front-drive resistance. Center-drive machines are less common. Front- and center-drive elliptical trainers offer the extra benefit of being able to step directly into the elliptical trainer from the rear, instead of stepping in sideways as with a rear-drive machine.
Warning
Some elliptical trainer users report foot and ankle numbness and discomfort after extended or frequent workouts. Elliptical trainer manufacturers have begun producing machines with a very slight inward tilt to the pedals, meant to combat foot and ankle problems by more closely approximating your natural biomechanics.
Considerations
Most elliptical trainers are at least as long as a treadmill, but have a narrower footprint. Some ultra-light, ultra-cheap models are also ultra-compact, but beware these machines -- and low-end elliptical trainers that fold to save space -- because flimsy construction destines you for an unpleasant workout or, even worse, total equipment failure.
Despite the potential pitfalls, elliptical trainers offer something you'll rarely find on other cardio machines: a full upper-body workout. Although you shouldn't confuse pushing and pulling the moving handlebars with a weight-training workout, they do help you gain muscular endurance in your arms, shoulders, chest and back, and the more muscles you move as you work out, the more calories you burn.
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