Why are Elliptical Trainers so Popular?

Although treadmills are still outselling elliptical trainers, elliptical sales are growing at a double digit pace. Why are elliptical trainers so popular? There are mainly two reasons, they provide a low impact workout, and they exercise both the lower and upper body simultaneously.

Low Impact Workout Appeals to an Aging Society

Americans are getting older, and with old age comes aches and pain from years of stress to our joints. For those that exercise regularly and have reached the half century mark, it is unusual not to be suffering from some sort of injury. Most forms of exercise require some sort of impact and reverse motion, and this takes its toll on your joints. For example, runners apply up to 2.5 times their body weight to their feet when they make a stride.

The majority of exercise related injuries are simply from constant impact. There is impact from just about every type of cardio workout you can perform, including walking and running. Treadmills help to some extent by absorbing some of the impact, but there is still that continual jolt to your joints.

Elliptical trainers significant reduce impact to your joints by utilizing an elliptical motion. When you exercise on an elliptical there never is any reverse and jolting action - consequently you never place excess pressure on any part of your body. You actually mimic the natural path of the ankle, knee and hip joints during locomotion.

Elliptical trainers are designed to move in a smooth, continuous motion without suffering the effects of direction reversal. And yet the exercise experienced on an elliptical trainer is still weight bearing, in comparison to an exercise bicycle. Weight bearing exercises are important to inhibit the onset of osteoporosis.

Benefits of Upper and Lower Body Workout

What makes an elliptical trainer truly unique is the ability to exercise both your upper and lower body simultaneously. With an elliptical trainer you are getting a workout that utilizes the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, chest, back, triceps and biceps. There is no other machine that offers such a thorough workout.

The obvious benefit from exercising more muscles is you end up shaping up more of your body. But do you realize that in the process you are also optimizing your energy expenditure.

By exercising more muscles at once you improve fat mobilization, which results in burning more calories and building muscle endurance more efficiently. You not only end up burning more fat, but also improve your overall health in less time.

Another benefit suggested in a in a recent study is that the "total body" elliptical exercise reduces the perceived rate of exertion. In other words, you are exercising harder without a noticeable difference.

Elliptical Machines are Low Maintenance

One of the problems with fitness equipment is that they often require service, and getting your equipment serviced can frankly be a pain. But in comparison to a machine like a treadmill, ellipticals are low maintenance.

Elliptical trainers require less maintenance for two reasons. First, they are not subject to the type of impact that treadmills must endure. The same constant impact that can injure your body can also cause damage to a treadmill. Second, elliptical trainers have less moving parts that can break down, and their construction is not near as complicated as a treadmill. Of course, we suggest you do not purchase a cheap elliptical. They are prone to have more problems, and often require service.

One last benefit of an elliptical is that it takes up less space than a treadmill or a home gym. There are some models that are larger than others, but in general ellipticals are more space friendly.

Elliptical trainers are taking the country by storm and the reasons are obvious. Next time you are in the market for fitness equipment give your body a break and check out an elliptical trainer.

About The Author:

Fred Waters worked in the fitness equipment industry for a number of years. He is author of the
Elliptical Trainer Review site. Before you buy check out his latest reviews and recommendations.