Exercise machines have followed something of a natural evolution. One of the first machines was the stationary bicycle, a logical way to allow people to exercise and get a cardio workout indoors or at the gym. As doctors learned the benefits of exercise, the fitness industry created more machines to meet the demand. Another relatively simple idea was the stair stepper, which imitated the action of actually climbing stairs. The elliptical machine came along in 1995, invented by an engineer at Precor and called the Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer.
Creation
The first elliptical trainer was born from necessity. The daughter of an engineer at Precor was recovering from a heel injury. Seeking a way to help his daughter continue to train for track, her father created a machine that mimicked the natural pattern of the foot when running, and put no stress at all on her heel. Precor ended up with at least 170 patents on its elliptical machines
Inclines
Precor improved the basic elliptical machine by adding an incline ramp that allows you to simulate a 10 to 40 degree uphill grade. Inclines enable you to increase the difficulty and intensity of your workout. You also use different muscles when you increase the slope. As a result of this improvement, elliptical machines could offer cardio workouts for people at all levels of fitness.
Upper Body
Reebok came up with the next upgrade in the evolution of elliptical machines. At least, some people consider it an upgrade. By attaching movable handles to elliptical machines, you could work both your lower and upper body, by using the handles in a motion similar to a cross-country skier. However, some fitness experts believe the handles operate as something of a crutch and recommend that you take your hands off the handles and the side rails when you use an elliptical machine. This forces you to work harder to keep your balance, and involves your core muscles as well as your legs.
Considerations
As of 2011, many fitness trainers believe elliptical machines are the best choice for people who are looking for an excellent cardio workout. Treadmills and stair climbers offer a low-impact workout, but elliptical machines offer a no-impact workout, which is easy on the legs, hips, knees and back. At the same time, using an elliptical machine is a weight bearing exercise, so you get the benefits of building bone density. Elliptical machines are generally easy to maintain, and they take up less space than treadmills. More that 15 years after its invention, the elliptical machine remains a leader of the pack in terms of exercise equipment.
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