Tony Little's Gazelle Glider is an elliptical-style exercise machine that is designed to simulate the motion of walking or running without producing any impact on your ankles, knees or hips. To exercise on the Gazelle, you stand on foot platforms that swing independently forward and backward, creating a motion that is a mix of walking and cross-country skiing. Choosing between walking and using the Gazelle is a matter of understanding how each method of exercise works your body and what your fitness goals are.
Function
The end goal of walking or using the Gazelle Glider is to improve your cardiovascular fitness and burn calories. In 2004, the Harvard Medical School published extensive research examining the amount of calories the average person burns in 30 minutes of various fitness activities. The researchers found that a 185-lb. person exercising at an average pace on an elliptical trainer will burn 400 calories, while the same person walking at a pace of 4 mph will only burn 200 calories over the same time period.
Types
The Gazelle can accomplish a variety of exercises, ranging from a basic jackknife movement to incline jackknifes that target your upper and lower body more intensely. These exercises can be transitioned to seamlessly during your workout, allowing you to build a variety of routines that will keep your motivation high. Walking on a treadmill or outdoors can be more limited in variety, as the exercise almost exclusively focuses on your lower body. Resistance can be added during a walk by increasing the incline grade you are walking up.
Features
According to fitness expert Dr. Chris Mohr, walking outdoors is his preferred workout compared to exercising on an elliptical trainer or treadmill because it stimulates more of the muscles in the back of the legs, not just those in the front. By adding in 30-second periods of walking at your maximum pace, Mohr notes that you can significantly increase your calorie burn while walking. Carrying light dumbbells while walking is another way to add upper body exercise to your routine and boost your weight loss.
Expert Insight
A study published in the February 2010 edition of the Physical Therapy journal examined the joint and muscular demands that are created on the body by walking versus those using an elliptical trainer. The study was carried out at the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska, and examined 20 adults that had no impairments on their walking strides. After research comparing four different elliptical trainers against walking, the researchers found that they could not find an elliptical trainer that could accurately simulate the natural human gait. However, they did find that the elliptical trainer increased muscle activation in the gluteus maximus and vastus lateralis.
Considerations
Gazelle trainers can be a good alternative to running or walking for individuals who are looking for a very basic workout. Being able to exercise indoors may make it easier to stick to your routine year round. However, walking is a cheaper form of exercise and is easier to incorporate into your everyday routine. The Gazelle's style of exercise may take you some time to get used to as well, making walking a better choice if you want a smaller learning curve.
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