Cardiovascular health is achieved by doing aerobic exercise: moving your body in a repetitive motion for an extended period with little or no resistance. According to Mayoclinic.com, regular aerobic activity strengthens your heart, boosts your good cholesterol, improves your stamina and reduces your risk for certain types of cancer. The best exercise equipment to improve your cardio health depends on your personal preference.
Duration
Before you use any equipment for cardio health, be aware of how long you should exercise. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, 30 minutes of physical activity is needed to maintain health and reduce disease risk. You can get the same benefits by working out two or three times a day for the same total number of minutes.
Treadmill
A treadmill gives you the same type of workout you would experience if you were running or walking outside. The major difference is that the terrain never changes, and you do not have to contend with weather conditions. When using a treadmill, adjust your speed and incline to make your workouts more or less challenging. You may also have the option of selecting a program that is built in to the machine. These generally involve alternating speeds and inclines.
Jump Rope
A jump rope is a handy tool that can give you a cardio workout anywhere. All that matters is you have a ceiling high enough to fit the rope as you swing it. Because the rope wraps up into a small size, you can take it with you when you travel, allowing you to stay on track with your workout routines while away from home.
Elliptical Machine
An elliptical machine has two upright poles and foot pedals. To use this machine, you simply move the poles and pedals back and forth simultaneously in fashion similar to cross-country skiing. One of the big advantages of elliptical training is that you work your upper and lower body at the same time. This means you can burn calories, improve your cardio health and tone your muscles in one motion. The main muscles involved are the glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps, pectorals, deltoids and triceps.
Rowing Machine
A rower is a low-impact cardio machine used from a seated position. To use a rower, place your feet in the foot holds, grasp the handle with both hands, and push your body backward on the sliding seat. Pull the handle to your lower chest as you extend your legs. Reverse the motion to get back to the starting point and repeat. In similar fashion to the elliptical machine, the rower works your muscles as you burn calories. The glutes, quads and hamstrings are the main muscles working in the lower body and the latissimus dorsi and biceps are the main muscles working in the upper body.
Exercise Bike
Exercise bikes involve the lower body muscles and come in two forms: upright or recumbent. Both types are low-impact, but the recumbent bike has a padded seat with a backrest, and the pedals are out in front of you. This bike is more advantageous if you suffer from lower back pain, according to the Spine-Health website. Both bikes have a resistance adjustment to make your workouts more challenging and to give you a better cardio workout.
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