Elliptical Trainers or Cross-Trainers

A stationary exercise machine(Elliptical Trainers or cross-trainers also called an X-trainer). They are used to simulate stair climbing, walking, or running without causing excessive pressure to the joints. This approach is often considered to decrease the risk of impact injuries. For this reason, people with some injuries can use an elliptical to stay fit, as the low impact is reduced.

Elliptical Trainer

Definition:

An elliptical trainer or cross-trainer (also called an X-trainer) is a stationary exercise machine used to simulate stair climbing, walking, or running without causing excessive pressure to the joints, hence decreasing the risk of impact injuries.

Elliptical trainers offer a non-impact cardiovascular workout that can vary from light to high intensity. The workout can be based on the speed of the exercise and the resistance preference set by the user. Elliptical trainers are primarily driven by the user’s legs. Most are combination designs having handle-levers attached to each pedal-link to enable some burden on the arms. This also provides a secondary source of driving power.

The user grips the handles below shoulder height and pushes and pulls the arms while shuffling the feet back and forth within elliptically-shaped paths. Thus the oscillating handle-motions are dependent on – and coordinated with – the constrained pedal-motions. Some poorly designed machines are too dependent on the user’s leg power. These can often produce excessive handle speeds due to mechanical ratios. Also, they do not provide enough mechanical advantage to the handle-levers. Consequently, such machines might feel to the user as if his arms are simply “going along for the ride” rather than performing a meaningful portion of the work. Better models of elliptical trainers offer a more balanced – or even harmonious – combination of arm and leg exercise in useful, proper ratios.