Your knees are one of the most important joints in your body, and also are placed under the most stress and pressure throughout the day as they hold up your body's weight. Your knees are also prone to injury, especially during times of physical activity. Even exercise equipment that is meant to help reduce stress on the knees may cause injury if used incorrectly --- including the elliptical.
Function of Ellipticals
Ellipticals provide an alternative to other types of exerciser equipment, such as treadmills, which rely on up and down motions to provide exercise verses the circular motion of an elliptical machine. Because ellipticals move in a circular motion, the jarring impact of your feet hitting the ground is removed, reducing stress on the joints. The intensity level of the exercise on an elliptical can be adjusted either through the speed in which you push the pedals, or by changing the resistance on the machine.
Strains
Although ellipticals reduce the stress on the knees in relation to other pieces of equipment, injuries to the knees can still occur. One of the most common is a strain of the attaching muscles that support the knee. Strains occur when the muscles are overstretched passed their normal capacity. For example, this can occur on an elliptical when you overwork the muscles without warming them up first, or by simply overusing the muscle to the point of fatigue from prolonged repetitive movements on the elliptical.
Osteoarthritis
The use of an elliptical or any other piece of exercise equipment may also contribute to the formation of osteoarthritis. Typically osteoarthritis of the knee is a problem that develops with age as cartilage proteins in the knee are increasingly replaced with water. This can lead to the cartilage cushion in the joints of the knee. While regular exercise on an elliptical may not be the primary contributor, the repetitive use of the knee joint while on the elliptical may result in inflammation and irritation of the affected joint.
Sprains
Unlike a strain in the knee, a sprain targets the ligament of the joint instead of the muscle. Your ligaments are bands of tough fibers which connect the bones and cartilage at your knee joint. A sprain occurs on an elliptical when the pivoting motion of the knee overextends or tears the ligament. Since the elliptical is typically more gentle on the knee joint, this type of injury is rare.
Prevention and Treatment
When using an elliptical it's important to take the necessary cautions to prevent injury. For example, always stretch your muscles before getting on the elliptical, and start slow while on the machine and work your way to faster movement and higher resistance to allow your muscles and ligaments to wamr up. If an injury occurs, it's important to treat it correctly through scheduling an appointment with your doctor and using the R.I.C.E method, or rest the knee, place ice on it, wrap the area with a compression bandage, and elevate the injury above the level of your heart.
