Elliptical trainers offer an intense, low-impact cardiovascular workout. According to the American Council on Exercise, or ACE, elliptical machines are a good option if you have a knee or leg injury, because they place less stress on the joints than do treadmills. The different types of elliptical machines are categorized by the drive motor and the workout options.
Workout Options
Most elliptical trainers have exercise arms. You pump your arms in rhythm with your legs, getting an upper and lower body workout. The idea is you burn more calories since you are using more muscles. Not all elliptical trainers offer this feature, although, as of January 2011, more models do than don't. On the machines that do have exercise arms, you can also choose to not use them and hold onto stationary handles instead.
Rear Drive Ellipticals
The first elliptical trainers on the market were rear drive ellipticals. The drive refers to the position of the flywheel mechanism on the machine. The flywheel is located on the back part of rear drive ellipticals. According to ellipticaltrainers.com, rear drive machines have more inertia, which results in a smooth, comfortable stride. Rear drive elliptical trainers have fewer moving parts than front drive machines, which generally means fewer service calls.
Front Drive Ellipticals
Precor originally owned the patent on the rear drive elliptical design. To compete, other brands had to create a different style -- the result was front drive ellipticals where the flywheel is positioned in the front of the machine. The movement of the pedals is flatter than that on rear drive machines. This means you need a longer stride length for a comfortable ride. Ellipticaltrainers.com states that a 20 inch stride on a front drive elliptical is equal to an 18 inch stride on a rear drive elliptical.
Center Drive Ellipticals
Center drive ellipticals center the user's weight in the middle of the machine. The drive mechanisms are situated to the sides of the user. This creates a solid, very sturdy base. Your body is in a more natural, upright position on a center drive elliptical. The footprints of these machines are much smaller than those of rear or front drive elliptical trainers. Center drive ellipticals are between 47 and 50 inches long, compared with 55 to 75 inches for a rear or front drive machine.
Member Comments