Elliptical Trainers - More Than A Fad
Since bursting on the fitness scene five years ago, millions
of elliptical trainers have been installed in health clubs and homes. Elliptical
trainers are the only real breakthrough aerobic product of the past few years,"
says Gregory Florez, spokesman for the American Council on Exercise (ACE). "They
are absolutely not a gimmick."
According to the American Sports Data, Inc., elliptical
trainers continued to grow in popularity, with 6.2 million users in 2000, up
from 2.4 million when first measured in 1997."
Elliptical trainers combine the natural stride treadmill and
the simplicity of a stair climber. On an Elliptical trainer, you stand
comfortably in an upright position while holding onto the machine's handrails
and striding in either a forward or reverse motion.
What makes
elliptical machines unique is the ability to offer a weight
bearing workout that puts minimal stress on the joints. Your feet never leave
the pedals of elliptical trainers, thereby eliminating any impact in your
workout. Whether you go forward or reverse, and regardless of the level of
resistance, there is a reduced risk of injury from overusing any one-muscle
group.
Weight bearing exercises like running, hiking and aerobics
benefits the body in ways that non-weight bearing exercises like rowing and
cycling cannot. Weight resistant workouts builds bone density and burns calories
more efficiently.
For individuals trying to burn calories and trim down, the
weight-bearing arm/leg exercise optimizes energy expenditure during
self-selected exercise of moderate intensity in overweight subjects. In recent
studies it was concluded that energy expenditure among overweight subjects was
higher on the elliptical machine than a treadmill, or leg cycles with and
without upper body motion. For overweight individuals who are initiating a
regular exercise program to decrease excess body fat, they will find that
elliptical trainers optimize energy expenditure.
Elliptical Motion
The low impact, intensive cardiovascular workout of elliptical
trainers is achieved through smooth and natural motion. The fluid, non-jarring
motion makes the elliptical trainer ideal for anyone with back, knee, hips and
joint problems. The dual action machines utilize both the legs and arm in
providing a full upper and lower body workout.
Motion studies over the last decade show that the human foot
moves through an elliptical pattern as we walk, run or jog. Fitness products
like elliptical trainers that imitate and support this motion are the fastest
growing new category of cardiovascular equipment.
With scarce time, a major factor in people's daily lives,
total body exercise can be truly beneficial. A total body exercise machine such
as elliptical trainers meet three goals that are most desired - weight loss,
time efficiency, and motivation.
Total Body Exercise involves more muscle mass in an aerobic
exercise activity. For the average person, the larger the muscle mass involved
in exercise, the more effective that exercise is for improving fat mobilization,
burning calories and building muscle endurance in an efficient period of time,
and at a reduced perceived rate of exertion. The upper and lower body workout of
elliptical trainers utilizes the quadriceps. hamstrings, glutes, chest, back,
triceps and biceps.
Elliptical Technology
Within the fitness industry, "Elliptical Technology" has
become the generic name for devices such as elliptical trainers that incorporate
the various linkages/mechanisms in an effort to create a preferred pattern of
movement for a pair of foot pedals. The shape of this preferred movement is
intended to mimic the natural path of the ankle, knee and hip joints experience
during locomotion - walking, striding, jogging and/or running.
In its most rudimentary form, Elliptical Technology consists
of a crank arm (similar to the crank of a bicycle) that revolves around an axis
at one end and that is attached to a bar at the other. The opposite end of the
bar moves in a reciprocating, linear pattern when the crank rotates. Since one
end of the bar rotates in a circular pattern while the other moves linearly,
points between the two ends of the bar move in elliptical patterns. The points
of the bar closest to the crank move in wider, more circular ellipses (closest
to a circle) and the points closest to the other end move in thinner, flatter
ellipses (closer to a straight line).
The most obvious advantage of Elliptical Technology is the
lack of impact to the lower limbs and back. Unlike a treadmill in which the foot
of the user is continuously lifted off of the running surface, striking that
surface upon the return, the foot and foot pedal of elliptical trainers are in
constant contact. Effectively eliminating impact.
Compared to elliptical trainers, impact force is also felt on
stairstepper devices. Although the foot often remains in contact with the foot
pedal when such devices are used, the foot pedal undergoes a virtually
instantaneous direction reversal. Essentially, the foot pedal is moving in one
direction, must stop and then is pushed in the opposite direction. The force
required to reverse the movement of the mechanism results in "impact" to the
joints of the lower body.
The mechanism incorporated in
elliptical machines moves in a
smooth, continuous motion and does not suffer the effects of direction reversal.
The exercise experienced on elliptical trainers is weight bearing (versus
exercise bikes) which has ramification in the inhibition of the onset of
osteoporosis.
In addition, although cycling is a well-recognized and safe
tool to improve cardiovascular conditioning, the elliptical modality is a more
functional pattern of movement. Since elliptical trainers simulate a natural
walking pattern, they easily lend themselves to an upper body component of
exercise. Many other devices, either due to their mechanical structure
(treadmills) or the pattern (cycling) do not readily adapt to a total body
configuration.
The various manufacturers of elliptical trainers have
developed many iterations of this basic technology. As a result, the field is
full of machines that have a different "feel" - the articulation of the ankle,
knee and hip is different. The true nature of Elliptical Technology has been
somewhat obscured by the preponderance of these questionable devices. Many lack
the design and mechanism to duplicate a fluid, natural motion. As with all forms
of exercise equipment, there are cheap versions that offer negligible physical
benefits.
Due to the natural motion, combined with an upper and lower
body workout, quality elliptical trainers will continue to grow in popularity
and their sales will substantially increase. They appeal to a population that is
increasingly overweight and looking for an optimum workout for burning fat and
calories. Ellipticals also appeal to an aging population that seeks a total body
workout, minus the impact.
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