Cross trainers, sometimes called "elliptical" trainers, are very efficient, low-impact stationary exercise machines that provide a full-body cardiovascular workout indoors. A typical cross trainer has foot pedals for your feet and arms that move back and forth when you grip them. The foot pads hold your feet on the machine and move as you stride on them, simulating a walking-in-place motion. The user can adjust the resistance on the foot and arm devices, and thus make the workout harder or easier by means of buttons on a digital display facing the user.
What to Look for
More expensive cross trainers--including those in a commercial gym, as well as home-use models--have displays that show your heart rate, calories burned and other information as you are striding. You can choose to push only the foot pedals and to grip a fixed bar (located either on both sides of the body or in front of the body) if moving both arms and legs makes the workout too difficult. Look for a cross trainer that is sturdy (the devices can weigh several hundred pounds) so you remain stable as you exercise. Also ask how long a warranty the trainer's manufacturer offers in case something goes wrong. Make sure you have enough space in the room where you plan to keep the trainer. In terms of cost, an entry-level model might cost between $700 and $1,000, while a full-featured one costs $3,000 and more.
Common Pitfalls
A study done at the University of Mississippi, commissioned by the American Council on Exercise in 1998, concluded that users on cross trainers do not burn any more calories than they do running on a treadmill. However, cross trainers are preferred by some users because the stepping motion puts less stress on knees than running. Some cheap trainers may not feel stable, especially for a large person. Inexpensive ones do not have as many varieties of programs, in which the resistance changes after several minutes, than the commercial gym units do.
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