Many elite athletes would say they live to exercise, but if you fall in with the rest of the human population, you probably exercise to live. That is why stair steppers and other functional fitness machines are so important. According to the Mayo Clinic, functional fitness exercises are used to train your muscles to work together and prepare them for tasks you may perform at home, work or while playing sports. Functional fitness also focuses on core stability by using many muscle groups in both the upper and lower extremities together. Stair steppers help coordinate your balance and your upper and lower extremity movement and help you gain strength in your lower body muscles.
StairMaster SC916 StairClimber
The only pedal-based stepper available from the StairMaster brand is the SC916 StairClimber. It offers speeds ranging from 26 to 174 steps per minute and includes 10 preset workouts along with integrated fitness tests and a hand-grip heart rate monitor. It is TV-ready and gives you the option to install a 15-inch LCD television in the console to make your workout more entertaining. This is a cordless stepper and a battery charger is included. Noted for its ergonomic design and its ability to provide a comfortable workout, the SC916 StairClimber will hold any user weighing up to 300 pounds. The leveling foot pedals keep your center of gravity over your heels so your weight is never pushed forward while working out.
StairMaster StepMill SM916
An option for the more serious exerciser is the stair stepper with a rotating staircase, often referred to as a "stepmill." StairMaster's SM916 StepMill provides a more intense workout than the traditional models of steppers because its rotating stairs give a more accurate representation of climbing stairs than pushing pedals. Each step is 8-inches tall and speeds range from 24 to 162 steps per minute. This model also contains a heart rate monitor and ergonomic handrails. Due to its size, the user will need a minimum ceiling height of 10 feet and a 110-volt power outlet to power the machine.
Stamina SpaceMate Folding Stepper
For those short on space, the Stamina SpaceMate Folding Stepper is a portable stair stepper machine with a display screen and handlebars. The machine features adjustable resistance and foam covered handlebars as well as a display to keep track of steps, time and calories. Despite its small size, the stepper provides a solid workout.
NordicTrack FreeStrider 35 S
NordicTrack provides a hybrid stepper featuring the movement of a stepper combined with that of a treadmill and an elliptical to give the user a more varied workout. The striding motion of the elliptical is combined with the vertical motion of the stepper. The NordicTrack offers 16 levels of resistance and contains a heart rate monitor and speakers as well as a cooling fan to make the workout more enjoyable. Movable handrails provide a workout for the upper body.
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