StairMaster is not one piece of equipment, but a company that designs exercise products. The majority of their portfolio contains devices that simulate walking up stairs. Ultimately, the products from StairMaster are about aerobic training and conditioning with low impact on the joints. Cardiovascular training, such as you receive from StairMaster equipment, works large muscle groups to improve overall heart health and fitness. If you are new to exercise, talk to your doctor to ensure stair-stepper programs are safe for you.
StairMaster Products
StairMaster designs stair fitness products. As of 2011, StairMaster offers two types of step mills and one stepper. The step mills look like conventional stairs but move similar to an escalator. The stepper has a pedal platform as opposed to actual steps. Also included in the StairMaster line is one upright stationary bike known as the Zephyr. These products offer low-impact, aerobic exercise that works the lower body to build muscle mass. All the devices have an on-board computer system that controls the speed and tension of the unit.
Cardiovascular Training
Cardiovascular exercise increases the heart rate by stressing large muscle groups. On a StairMaster product, this stress applies to the muscles in the legs. As you operate the system, the thighs, buttocks and calf muscles struggle to pull you through the program. This activity requires more oxygen to go to the working muscles. The heart controls the rate of blood flow. When you work out on a StairMaster, the heart receives a message to pump faster to satisfy the need for oxygen. Since the heart is a muscle, increasing the rate works it harder, so it gets stronger.
Strength Training
StairMaster workouts focus on the key muscle groups in the lower body. Most of these devices use gravity resistance from your bodyweight to go up a level, and the strain of this action falls on the legs. While the goal may be aerobic conditioning, muscles in the legs and buttocks work hard to move upward. Strength training is about challenging the muscles. When a muscle becomes stressed, the body breaks it down and rebuilds it stronger. Working out on a StairMaster will help build muscles in the lower body to improve balance, bone density and strength.
Overall Benefits
StairMaster provides a way for you to drill regularly. This means you reap all the benefits of a structured fitness program. Regular exercise helps to improve your mood and energy level. You will sleep better when you exercise. Getting on a StairMaster will help keep you healthy by improving your ability to fight chronic disease such as diabetes. Exercising with StairMaster equipment is not the only way to achieve these goals, but it provides you freedom that is not dependent on the weather, unlike outdoor jogging or bike riding. The machines put less stress on your joints than other forms of physical exercise, such as running.
References
- American College of Sports Medicine; Selecting and Effectively Using A Stair Stepper/Climber; 2005
- Mayo Clinic; Exercise for Weight Loss: Calories Burned in 1 Hour; December 2009
- My Optum Health; Step It Up: Using a Stair Climber for Exercise; Jenilee Matz; October 2010
- Mayo Clinic; Exercise: 7 Benefits of Regular Physical Activity; July 2009
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